Betty B. Benson

BENSON: Betty B. Benson, 94, died peacefully on January 19, 2015. She was born in New York City on June 2, 1920 to Benjamin and Mary Weinberg (Grosz). She grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in 1938. She met her husband-to-be, Benjamin in 1940 and they were married in May, 1943. During the war, she was a civilian employee of the U.S. Army. After the war they had 2 sons, Roger and Seth and in 1951 moved to Jacksonville. Betty and Benj were married until his death in 1970. Betty then enrolled at Jacksonville University and earned a degree in French. In 1971, Betty won a raffle sponsored by River Garden Hebrew Home and used the money for her first trip to Europe. She left expecting to fall in love with France but, instead, fell in love with Italy and the Italian language. Betty had a gift and a passion for language and set about learning Italian. She also began a career as a travel agent. She traveled the world with tremendous energy, enthusiasm and courage but her favorite destination was always Italy, where she created a wonderful family of friends. Everywhere she travelled she learned at least a bit of the language (Thai, Spanish, Mandarin ) and took a genuine interest in the people she met. By the early 1970 s, Betty had mastered Italian to such an extent that she began teaching Italian to U.S. Navy personnel at NAS Jax and Mayport who were being deployed to Naples, Italy. She also taught conversational Italian to a generation of adult students at Wolfson High School, UNF and at the community college. She worked tirelessly to make her class practical in how to make a phone call, how to read a menu and fun. Betty was a devoted, loyal and loving wife and mother. She was also a caring and inspiring grandmother to her grandsons, Joshua and Andrew and her grandson Noah, who predeceased her.

If you choose to make a gift to honor Betty, River Garden would be at the top of her list for the loving care they provided her over the years. A Memorial Service will be held at three thirty pm on Thursday, January 29, 2015 in the Parker Chapel of River Garden Hebrew Home with Rabbi Joshua B. Lief as officiant.

Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardage-giddensoaklawnchapel.com HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com