Marie T. Benney

On March 14, 2012, Marie Theresa (née Rapisarda), beloved wife of Melvin Benney, daughter of the late Mildred (Sodaro) Rapisarda and the late Anthony Rapisarda, beloved sister of Dolores Orlando, brother-in-law Joseph, and of Rev.Gregory Rapisarda, and beloved sister-in-law of the late Carol Rapisarda.

Relatives and friends visited at the Schimunek Funeral Home of Bel Air, Inc, 610 W. MacPhail Road, Bel Air, Maryland

21014, on Sunday, March 18 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. A Christian Wake Service was held

on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Margaret’s Church, 141 North Hickory Avenue, Bel

Air, Maryland 21014 on Monday, March 19 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at Quantico National Cemetery in Quantico,

Virginia, on Wednesday, March 21 at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maryland SPCA 330 Falls Road Baltimore, Md. 21211-2403 or the American Diabetes Association 2002 Clipper Park Dr. Suite 110 Baltimore, Md. 21211.

www.schimunekfuneralhomes.com

Eulogy Delivered by Dolores Orlando:

Only a few of us knew Marie before she was 10 years old. For 44 years, juvenile diabetes affected her body, but it

could not destroy her JOY!

Her spirit of JOY came from the Theological Virtues, Faith, Hope and Charity. They are called Theological because they come from God and return to Him. Faith in that whoever did this (pointing to the crucifix) meant everything He ever said. Hope in that she would never deny Him. Charity in that she could deal with Him and with us

and with herself in that truth.

What was the questions asked most of me? How’s Marie? Why? Because Marie asked that question about each of us: How’s - - - fill in your name. She was concerned for you in your health, in your cancers, your Lyme diseases, your pregnancies, and in the anomalies of genetic structure. She was concerned for your wealth, your jobs, your careers, your vocations in life. She was concerned for the dreams you have for yourself, dreams that never came about, dreams for a family life that you eventually had to accept, the death of your spouse, your parents, your children. She was concerned that living these sufferings would cloud or kill your faith and your hope.

Marie was born on the day after my 14th birthday. It was the ordination day for Fr. Gerald LaPorta, friends of my parents. From that day, she was known as Fr. Gerry’s Ordination Baby! Uncle Phil and I are her Godparents. She was my sister and my godchild.

We lived on Sagra Rd. in an unairconditioned row house, with windows open and people sleeping on porches to escape the sweltering heat. We shared a bedroom and she was always “my little sister”! Sagra Road neighbors are still part of her life.

She went to St. Matthew’s School where she made her First Holy Communion, and received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Cathedral school. She graduated from Mercy High in 1975 and was accepted into Villa Julie College. She stayed there for a year - until she met a handsome Marine, whom she throughly ignored. As Mel, would say, “That’s okay. I knew. I knew. I spent more time with her mother and father, but that’s okay.” Finally her parents said, “Marie, why don’t you go out with this guy?”

They were married on June 18, 1977. She took a little time to put her home life in order. Then one day, she packed up her typewriter, took the bus to a government office (OPM) and sat for a typing exam. She passed, and from then on worked for the United States Marines for 25 years. She worked at the Pentagon in the offices later hit on 9/11. She worked at the Marine headquarters in Navy Annex, Arlington, VA, then at Quantico, VA. She would start the day with 7:00 A.M. Mass wherever possible. Even though she had many health difficulties, going to work every morning was the healthiest part of her life. At her retirement luncheon, the officers and staff said that for 25 years no one would complain about anything because Marie was always full of joy, even when in pain.

She and Mel hosted dinners and picnics for the military who had no local family. They loved Virginia and Virginia Beach. We don’t hear of too many military families who can stay in a city for their entire careers.

She participated in her Church in Virginia. The highlight of her life was in taking Holy Communion to the sick. She told me when they died: “I used to take Holy Communion to her.”

She loved participating with the St. Margaret’s Confirmation classes. She understood the teens and their struggle with faith.

Some of her hobbies included cake baking with elaborate decorations in all kinds of Wilton and original designs. Over the years, she bought and then gave away Tupperware, Avon, Melaluca, and any number of things she thought her friends would like. Did she make money on them? She could never make money off of her friends and family!

Like her dad, she was an avid football fan. She knew the teams, players and the strategies. She could talk football with anyone who could talk football.

She loved movies, knew all the actors and their roles. As for music and musicians, she knew them, too! We would call her and say, Marie who sang...? She loved knowing that Frank Zappa’s relatives were friends of ours on Sagra Road. Did you know she played the piano, too?

She traveled with Mel on their “17-State Cowboy trip”.

Dad took her to Niagara Falls, and the Basilica of St. Ann de Beaupre in Canada, and to visit, by car, classmates and family in Los Angeles and San Francisco. She went to Italy, Sicily, Ireland, Hawaii and many trips to the Caribbean with so many of you. A trip to Ocean City or to Bethany Beach was just as important and as much fun! We did our share of cooking and baby-sitting to give our young mothers a break at the beach.

I know Marie wants to include into this little tribute how much she loved and appreciated each one of you, her friends, every doctor, nurse, secretary and receptionist. You are not unnoticed. Every relative, whether by name, marriage, or bond of friendship is special to her and to Mel. As for our family, - my husband, Joe, told her she could come to our family events even though she is not an Orlando. She told him he could go to her family events, even though he is not a Rapisarda.

Marie would never want to forget Nelson and his mother, Therese. Nineteen year-old Nelson got on his motorcycle to run an errand for his mother. He got hit by a car, a mother’s worse nightmare. He became her pancreas and kidney donor. A few years later, in true Marie form, she contacted his mother and they became friends. Theresa knew that her son lived again.

As for you Mel, she and we thank you for giving her the freedom to do whatever she wanted with her life. You trusted her to take care of the home while you were in Japan and while you traveled with the Marines 13 weeks a year to give trainings. You are so proud that the government saw her achievements and potential. Because you trusted her, you could do your job so well for 22 years as a Marine, and 19 years teaching JROTC to teens.

In a prayerful moment, read the little poem I found from my mother. She wrote it while in the midst of terrible suffering, cancer, loss of an eye, a very sick husband, and a diabetic daughter whom she hoped would be married one day. Look also, at the prayer from Mr. Roth, a prayer asking God that the day’s events would never destroy his own faith, hope, and love.

The last time I spoke with Marie, Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 10:30 in the morning, she said, “It’s March and the birthdays are____.” Then, she stopped short. If ever you felt that no one was thinking of you, remember Marie not only thought of you, but knew your birthday and the dates of everyone special to you.

Today, is a special day in the Church. Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus, the husband of Mary, the Patron Saint of a Happy Death. Marie, it’s March, and the birthdays include, you, dear sister,

born into Eternal Life, March 14, Two Thousand Twelve.

Poem by Mildred Rapisarda, March 1, 1976:

“Dear Jesus” --

Keep us in “Your Holy Spirit” and shield us from the world!

Keep us in Your Holy Spirit and there to do Your Will!

Fill us with Your Holy Spirit to proclaim Your Word,

To give us courage and to give us strength and the Wisdom to know of the Lord!

Send Your Holy Spirit to the poor and the oppressed, and to our city and our

nation and to forgotten souls in distress!

Keep all men in Your Spirit until the day - we’ll live again in Your presence

eternally to stay.

Prayer by Seminarian Steve Roth of St. Margaret Church Bel Air:

"Loving Father, You who are God of all times and seasons, be present to me. As I prayerfully reflect on the shortness of our lives her on earth, inspire me to see each day as a gift. Guide me to give You thanks for my blessings and always rely on You in times of struggle. Help me to never take my day for granted"