Sister Jeanette A. Benson, SP
May 7, 1924 - June 20, 2011
Obituary
Sr. Jeanette Benson, SP, died on Monday, June 20, 2011 at 7:50 p.m. at Swedish Hospital First Hill Campus, Seattle, Washington at 87 years of age, after 67 years as a Sister of Providence. The Vigil Service will be on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA. The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, July 1, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Seattle following the Mass. Bonney-Watson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Sr. Jeanette was born to Daniel Carl Richard Benson and Catherine Sarah Woods Benson in Latouche, Alaska on May 7, 1924. Her father worked in the Kennecott Copper Mine in Prince William Sound in Alaska and also worked for the Department of Interior, Fish & Wildlife. She spent some of her childhood on the Pribilof Islands in the Bering Strait, some time with her aunt and uncle in a lighthouse on Tatoosh Island in the Straits of Juan de Fuca, and also time in Seattle.
She had no formal schooling from the fifth through the eighth grades yet was able to attend Queen Anne High School in Seattle and then changed to Holy Names Academy, graduating in 1942. She attended Seattle College now Seattle University, Seattle, WA.
Sr. Jeanette entered the Sisters of Providence on November 17, 1943, made her first profession on November 19, 1945, and professed her final vows on November 19, 1948.
Her academic accomplishments include: B.A., College of Great Falls now University of Great Falls, Montana, 1951; M.A., Religious Education, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., 1962; MSW, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, 1984.
She taught school in the following locations from 1945 – 1969: Washington Tacoma, Yakima, Seattle, Vancouver, Olympia, and Moxee; Fairbanks, Alaska; Burbank, California; and Des Plaines, Illinois.
Sr. Jeanette worked during the summers of 1968-69 at St. Mary’s College, Winona, Minnesota and St. Mary’s Press in the areas of catechetics and catechetical publishing. She also taught the Religious Education section of the Education Block for the Sister Formation Program for several quarters and taught one summer at Providence Heights in the same area.
Sr. Jeanette served in the following capacities: Inter-Parish Adult Education, Roseburg and Ashland, OR, 1969-1972; Director, Adult Education, Sacred Heart Parish, Medford, OR, 1972-1975; Family Education, Marylhurst College, Portland, OR, 1975-1978; Family Education Consultant, Diocese of Yakima, Yakima, WA, 1978-1980; Family Education Consultant, St. Rose Parish, Portland, OR, 1980-1981 and Paulist Center, Portland, OR, 1981-1986; Private practice counseling, Paulist Center, Portland, OR, 1986-1989; Clinical Social Worker, Mosaic Counseling Associates, Paulist Center, Portland, OR, 1989-1992.
Sr. Jeanette co-authored a book called Becoming Family. She trained with the internationally known “mother” of Family Therapy, Virginia Satir and also trained with Dr. Margaret Sawin in New York regarding family education. She enjoyed running, hiking, biking, reading, and cross-country skiing.
She retired in Portland, Oregon in 1992 and lived her last years at St. Joseph Residence in Seattle, Washington.
Sr. Jeanette is preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Susie Schattenkerk. She is survived by her brother, Francis Skidmore, Lopez Island, WA; her nieces – Debbie, Dana, Jeanette, and Melody; her nephews – Wayne, Christopher, and Maynard; 17 grandnieces and nephews; five great-grand nieces and nephews, and her community of the Sisters of Providence.
Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016.
We will miss her warm, cheerful smile and Christian love.
Dear Family and Friends,
I really admired Jeanette because she never felt sorry for herself and she was a good sport about life and living.
God Bless
Sr. Eileen Walsh OP-T
Dear Family, Sisters, and friends of Jeanette,
Today we are all wearing “crazY” and colorful socs in honor of Jeanette, because she always wore them. She always brought a smile to our faces, and what I miss most is her big laugh. She was a very joyful and loving person and will be remembered always for her genuine happiness.
God Bless you all!
Sr. Sharon OCD