Obituary: Gertrude A. Benoit

Mrs. Gertrude A. Benoit

Mrs. Gertrude A. Benoit

Gertrude A. Benoit was born on Dec. 10, 1919, to Maxime and Edwardina Jubinville in Irasberg, Vt. She grew up on a dairy farm with 13 brothers and sisters; she was the second from the youngest. Her fondest memory of her youth was playing in the barn with her cats, and watching whenever her Dad started a building project.

As a young adult she spent part of a year as the female singer for the Kentucky Ramblers. This CW band traveled throughout Vermont and upstate New York, and she even cut a record. She moved to Leominster, Mass., to help her brother and his family and took a job at Clewitts & Peadody sewing factory making Arrow shirts. While in Leominster she met Raymond Benoit. They got married in 1942, and he was off to war 30 days later. Back to the farm she went, and that's where they had two daughters, Celine, then Paulette. After the war they settled in Greenfield, Mass. Shortly thereafter came the move to Manchester, N.H. Michelle arrived in 1954, and in 1958, the family moved to Phoenix.

While in Phoenix she and Ray were involved in building three Catholic Parishes. In 1983, they moved to Prescott. While here, Gertrude was an active member of the Senior Fun Bunch, Hiking Club and New Life Choir. She was constantly sewing clothes for the needy and for babies at Birth Line. Her many hobbies included sewing, quilting, piano, guitar, painting, pottery, mosaic, knitting/crocheting, numerous building projects, and most of all family. Gert was a great 4-H Mom and cheerleader at horseshows and dog shows. She lived life with a good sense of humor and great devotion to her faith.

She leaves behind a sister, Annette Girouard of Orleans, Vt.; daughters Celine Benoit of Midwest City, Okla., Paulette and Bob Christian of Sun City, Ariz., and Michelle and Art Anderson of Scottsdale, Ariz.

A Rosary will be at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 6, 2008, at the Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home, corner of Cortez and Carleton, with visitation two hours before.

A Celebration of Gertrude's Life Mass will be 11 a.m. Monday, July 7, 2008, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 150 Fleury, Prescott, with final farewell and commendation at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 8, at St. Francis Cemetery, 2033 N. 48th Street, Phoenix, Ariz.

You are invited to log on to www.ruffnerwakelin.com to view a tribute to her and to sign Gertrude's guest book, and share a memory with the family.

Information provided by survivors.


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