Louise Mente Bennett passed away peacefully with family by her side on September 1, 2023. She was survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Ronald W. Bennett. Louise was born on June 20, 1930 in Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of Charlie and Jett Lutes. She was a 1948 graduate of Fairview High School and attended Central Christian Church. She married Major Joseph Mente in December 1955. Among their various assignments was a three year tour to Japan where her lifelong passion for Japanese flower arranging began. She achieved the highest rank of “First Degree Master” from the Ohara School of Ikebana at the age of 86… a 30+ year endeavor. Joe and Louise raised three children, Phillip Mente (Jan), David Mente, and Karen Mente Duffy (Craig). After Joe’s sudden death in 1971, Louise married Ronald Bennett on June 23, 1978, who lost his wife in 1973. Ron was also born in Dayton and was a 1949 graduate of Fairmont High School. “Memu” loved all her grandchildren: Jennifer Brock (Chris), Sarah Abner (Will), Emily Foran (Will), Julia Mente, Steven Mente (Audrey), Rachel Duffy, and Cyrus Bennett, as well as her two step-sons, Randy Bennett (Kim) and David Bennett, plus two great-grandchildren, Simon and Jonas Mente. In 1973, Louise was the co-founder and first Board of Trustees president of Benjamin Wegerzyn Garden Center. During the past 50 years she remained continuously active supporting what is now Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark. Her leadership in annual fundraising activities as well as financial campaigns for garden development will be a lasting gift to her community for generations to come. In recent years, Louise became interested in raising butterflies, especially Monarchs. She designed a Monarch Waystation near her home at St. Leonard’s planting host plants to attract many different butterfly species. Her passion for gardening, flowers, and butterflies carried through to the end of her life. Donations in her memory can be made to Hospice of Dayton or Central Christian Church in Kettering, Ohio
A visitation for Louise will be held Monday, September 11, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Tobias Funeral Home - Far Hills Chapel, 5471 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, Ohio 45429, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 PM. Burial to follow at David's Cemetery
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.tobias-funeral.com for the Bennett family.
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