Jeanelle Marie Benvie

It is with deep sorrow that we the family of Jeanelle Benvie announce her sudden but peaceful passing at her home on Wednesday January 14th. She was born the second of 18 children to Camille and Winnie (Sirois) Lavoie in Rivière-Verte, NB on September 15, 1923. Jeanelle was pre-deceased by her parents, three sisters, four brothers, and her loving husband Lewis Franklyn Benvie. She was the mother of seven daughters: Dawn (Robert) Howell, Lynn (Jan-deceased) Jansma, Glenda (Andrew) Cutten, Zita (Lawrence–deceased) Curry, Louise (Lorne–deceased) Browne, Gina Benvie, and Donnah (Paul) Martell. She dearly loved her 17 grandchildren and her 12 great-grandchildren. Jeanelle was a devout parishioner of her beloved church and a member of the Catholic Women's League for over fifty years. She often expressed her joy and appreciation for all the spiritual gifts she received through participation offered within the Cursillo and Charismatic Movements of the Catholic Church. She was honoured to serve as a Minister of the Eucharist for several years. She was very grateful to have made a pilgrimage to both Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré and to Medjugorje. Jeanelle was one of five women instrumental in bringing the Magnificat Breakfast for Women to Nova Scotia. Jeanelle was an avid sports woman both as a participant and fan. She had a passion for curling, golf, skating, swimming, and was a lawn bowling provincial champion. She was a competitive bridge player, loved to read autobiographies, watch old movies, and had a great sense of humour. Jeanelle was no stranger to hard work. She started her first job at the age of 11 as a cook at her father’s lumber camp. Before she was married in 1944, Jeanelle worked as a cook at a boarding home, where she just happened to meet her future husband who was in the RCAF. She eventually trained as a professional hair stylist in Montreal. While raising her 7 daughters, Jeanelle supplemented their family income as a self-employed hair stylist. She was a very talented seamstress, sewed most of the family’s clothing and made her own hats and blankets. She constantly had a knitting or crochet project on the go; her children and grandchildren never went without mittens. True to her nature, she never stopped and after things quieted on the home front; she trained as a clerk and worked with the Dept. of Motor Vehicles and retired around the same time as her husband did from the Federal Government. For many years, they enjoyed traveling and living for part of the year in Florida. Jeanelle loved the beautiful warm weather. We are grateful for the professional and caring staff at The Berkeley, Dartmouth, and would like to thank them for all their love and help. Visitation will be held Saturday, January 17 from 7–9 pm and Sunday, January 18 from 2–4 pm in JA Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax. There will be a celebration of her life at a funeral mass in Saint Benedict Parish on Monday, January 19 at 10:30am with reception to follow. Burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lower Sackville. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and the Arthritis Society of Nova Scotia