Obit: Beneventi, Mary Louise (1930 – 2009)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Beneventi, DeRose, Ragusi, Volk, Olson, Lies, Klechak, LeBlanc, Hestad, Thompson, Evangelista

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) December 23, 2009

Beneventi, Mary Louise (24 October 1930 – 15 December 2009)

Mary L. Beneventi, 79, of Black River Falls died Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009, in her home under the care of Black River Memorial Hospice.

Mary Louise Ragusi was born Oct. 24, 1930, in Evanston, IL, to Pasquale and Teresa Marie (DeRosa) Ragusi.  She was raised in Northfield, IL.  She married Frank Anthony Beneventi in 1948, and they were formerly married for 36 years.

Mary had been employed in quality control at Sara Lee, of Deerfield, IL.  She had lived in Reno, NV, for 31 years.  For the past three years, she has lived at Black River Falls, where she made her home with her daughter, Deborah and William Volk, and her granddaughter, Xena and Larry Olson.

She was a devout member of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Mary enjoyed cooking Italian-style, playing Scrabble with her family and reading the Bible.  She enjoyed visits from her loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren, especially granddaughters Xena Olson, Brandy Beneventi (Lives in Arizona) and Monica (Adam) Lies and her three sons (great-grandsons) and great-granddaughters, Mia and Emily.

Survivors include her children, Deborah (William) Volk of Black River Falls, Greg (Angie) Beneventi of Cottonwood, AZ, Cindy (Tim) Klechak of Sedona, AZ, and Sandra (Keith) LeBlanc of Salem; 10 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; a sister, Ann (Bjoron) Hestad of Northfield, IL; a brother, William (Ann) Ragusi of Northbrook, Il: and her constant companion, her little dachshund, “Baby”.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Pasquale and Teresa Marie Ragusi and two sisters, Edi Thompson and Frances Evangelista.

In accordance with her wishes, there will be no local funeral services.  Her cremated remains will be buried with her mother and father in the family plot in All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, IL.

The Buswell Funeral Home, Black River Falls, is assisting the family with arrangements.