Shirley A. Benjamin | Service:
Sunday, November 16, 2008
1:00 PM
Heineberg Senior Housing
72 Heineberg Road
Burlington, VT
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| | | Shirley A. Benjamin passed away on Monday, October 20, 2008 at Fletcher Allen Health Care surrounded by her loving family.
Shirley was born in Lewiston, VT on May 1, 1925. She grew up in Lewiston, Corinth, Lincoln, and Bristol. She attended Bristol High School until the age of 17 when the family moved to Hartford, CT to work during the war. Much later she returned to Bristol to work and raise her daughter. Shirley worked at many places but only in May, 1970 did she find the job she was meant to have, and that was at Brandon Training School. She retired from this job after 20 years of loyal service as head supervisor.
After retirement she moved back to Starksboro where she began driving the senior citizen bus taking the elderly to and from daycare in Middlebury. Later she worked for many years doing home care for the VNA.
In March of 2000 she moved to the Heineberg Senior Housing in Burlington to be closer to her family. She found living at Heineberg to be wonderful. She joined the entertainment committee and enjoyed planning monthly meals, picnics, socials, holiday events, yard sales, and bake sales where her baked beans were a big sale item. Her favorite event was Saturday morning coffee hour. Residents, their families, and Sean the mailman would all enjoy a cup of coffee and someones fresh baked morning sweet. She will be missed at Heineberg; she was known to be quite a character.
Shirley was predeceased by her parents James and Marion (Brown-Allen) Benjamin; her son-in-law Ray Leach whom she had a very special love for, the two of them gave us many hours of entertainment. She was also predeceased by her two brothers Dewey and Carl Benjamin. Shirley is survived by her daughter Melody A. Leach and grandchildren Allison Nicole and Benjamin John Leach all of Burlington. Ali and Ben were her whole life. Also surviving is her sister Ivis Masterson of Lincoln; her many nieces and nephews, with whom she had special bonds. She loved spending time with each and every one of them. She was Aunt Shirl to so many.
My mom had many special relationships with her nieces, but none more than with Joyce Reynolds, who has always been a great comfort to her and had a loving relationship. My mom has provided so many wonderful memories for all of us. My children and I will miss her so much. Her constant unchanging love and support, her warmth and incredible sense of humor will be missed by many.
I would like to thank the nurses and staff on Baird 4 for all of your support and kindness. You made my moms last days as comfortable as possible. Your warmth and care was so much comfort to me when I couldnt be with her. I knew she was being loved and cared for as I would have done myself.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 16, at 1:00pm at Heineberg Senior Housing, Burlington. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Shirleys memory may be made to Heineberg Senior Housing, c/o Tom Fowler, 72 Heineberg Rd., Burlington, VT 05401. Arrangements are in the care of the Ready Funeral & Cremation Service, Burlington. To send online condolences to the family please visit www.readyfuneral.com.
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