Obituary of Joan L. Benson

Joan L. Benson, 88, ofChester,NY. The Angels arrived Friday and took Mom home. A journey that began in pre-DepressionBoroPark, Brooklyn on July 27, 1925, reached an end at her home inChester. She was the daughter of the late John Ruby and Laurette MacKinnon. She was the widow of Charles L. Benson II. She was the "Leader of the Club" and the Last Survivor on either side of that generation of the family. For years now, we all had known, Mom included, who would be the 'next to go.' If that designation ever upset her, she kept it well hidden. She was a survivor in every sense of the word. She went by many names; Mom, Grandma and Nanny were her favorites. She and our Dad, who passed almost thirteen years to the day of Mom's passing, arrived in Chester from Brooklyn, via Ozone Park, Queens in April of 1954. Having been born and raised in 'The City' and the comforts and conveniences it provided, she was not prepared for theOrangeCountyof the 1950's. We do not believeOrangeCountywas prepared for her either! For nearly sixty years, she lived in the same little house onConklingtown Road, where she raised four of us and was the hostess, head cook and bottle washer to a house full of visiting aunts, uncles and cousins every holiday. Numerous times, there were ten of us or more all in a four bedroom home with, as she would say, "One bathroom and bad plumbing." She never forgot a birthday or an anniversary and was generous to a fault. How she managed to provide for everyone on such a limited fixed-income has always remained a mystery to us. She was a devout Catholic and a lifelong registered Democrat, who had voted Republican since 1968. She drove her Honda Civic right up until the end. When her physician asked recently if she had any anxieties, she replied, "No, but I worry a lot!" She enjoyed Fox News, Talk Radio, The Jewelry Channel and QVC. She lived independently and never wanted to be a burden on anyone. We never knew how infirm she actually was, as she kept it well hidden, until she passed. But, as she recently told her daughter-in-law, she was "not ready to go yet." Her last package from QVC arrived Friday, a Kindle-Fire. Mom will be sorely missed! She is survived by her children, Charles L. Benson III and wife, Mariann of Montgomery, NY, John M. Benson of Wurtsboro, NY, Kenneth E. Benson and wife Rae of Henderson, NV and Lauretta B. Colgan of Goshen, NY; 7 grandchildren, Casey, Emily, Maggie, Kaitlyn, Molly, Timothy and Amy; 5 great grandchildren, Patrick, Nicholas, Charlie, MacKinnon and Declan; many nieces and nephews; special nieces Susan Caputo and Carol Van Der Poel. She was predeceased by her husband Charles L. Benson II, parents, 3 sisters, Anne, Christine and Ruby and brother, Richard. Visitation will be Thursday, March 6 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Donovan Funeral Home, Inc,82 South Church Street,Goshen,NY. The Funeral Mass will be held 10:00 am on Friday, March 7 atSt. Joseph'sR.C.Church,14Glenmere Ave.,Florida, NY. Burial will follow in Orange County Veteran'sMemorialCemetery,Goshen. Memorial contributions may be made in Joan's name toSt. Joseph's Church,14Glenmere Avenue,Florida, NY 10921. Arrangements under the care of the Donovan Funeral Home, Inc.,Goshen. To leave the family a personal condolence please visit www.donovanfunerals.com.