Patricia Ann Benestante Bravenec passed valiantly in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, the 26th of January 2019. She was 67 years of age. She was born in Houston on the 19th of July 1951, to Rosalie and Sam Benestante, their first of four children.
She attended Sacred Heart grade school then went to Robert E. Lee High School. In high school she excelled at stenography, business training, and art. She graduated class of 1969.
Patricia and her friends enjoyed watching football games under the Friday night lights, often driven to the events by her cousin in his convertible. She continued to enjoy and follow sports throughout her life and maintained those childhood friendships.
Tricia utilized her organizational skills, strength as a typist and stenographer, and her attention to detail to became an Executive Secretary.
Patricia met her future husband at a wedding, where she was a bridesmaid and he was an attendant. It was love at first sight. On the 25th of March 1971 Patricia married Sam, the love of her life and the man that would hold her hand as she took her last breath.
Tricia loved to read novels, watch afternoon talk shows, cook, and especially entertain. She was a gracious hostess for many gatherings specifically the much anticipated Christmas Eve Party and Bastille Day Celebration in New Orleans. She loved being around family and friends and welcomed them to her home whether it be in Houston at their home in Stablewood or their winter (summer) home in Quechee, Vermont.
She shared her joy of travel especially with her niece Brooke who was included in their trips from an early age. Patricia and Sam were avid travelers to Maui, Barbados, Saint Kitts, Tahiti and many places abroad. They made new and everlasting friendships from their travels.
Patricia had a vivacious presence, a beautiful smile, a full-bodied laugh, glamorous appearance, and a classic beauty. She kept in contact with friends and family through beautiful cards that were full of words of love, support, encouragement, or a simple thinking of you. You knew you were loved and important.
Tricia was a woman of her word as proven by the love and generous caring for her treasured cousin Frank, her “Guber.”
Patricia and Sam appreciated nature and maintained a beautiful garden and a spectacular display of seasonal florals, best enjoyed on the front porch of their Quechee home with a glass of peach mint iced tea.
They collected fine art and relished many of the finer things in life.
Tricia is preceded in death by both parents, Rosalie Bonno Benestante and Salvador “Sam” Benestante; Mother-in-Law, Matilda Theresa Susen Bravenec; and Brother-in-Law, Dean Schmitz. She is survived by her devoted husband, Samuel K. Bravenec; her siblings, Rose Benestante Schmitz, Michael S. Benestante and his wife Natalie, Gina Benestante-Heidemann and her husband David; her nieces, Brooke Benestante Curry and her husband Casey, and their children Aidan and Dylan, Gretchen and Grace; cousin Angela Dispensa and her son Frank Dispensa-Pena; and many other relatives.
The family wishes to express sincere thanks and gratitude to all medical personnel, especially Dr. Victor David, Dr. Rahman, Dr. Stanley Duchman, the nursing staff on Main 7 and SICU Dunn 3 of Methodist Hospital, for their tremendous care throughout a courageous battle fought on her terms. A special thank you to all the personal healthcare assistants Sandra, Betty, Renide, Kim, and Cherlaine for your prayers, compassion, and dedication. For 28 years, Miriam Velasquez, was a true blessing in her dutiful care as a house keeper and friend. Thank you.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 1st of February, in the Grand Foyer and Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where a Recitation of the Holy Rosary will immediately follow in the chapel.
A Mass of Christian Burial is to be offered at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 2nd of February, at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 6921 Chetwood Drive in Houston, where the Rev. Andrew Meiners, Associate Pastor, will celebrate.
The Rite of Committal will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston.
Honored to serve as pallbearers during the services are Michael S. Benestante, David Heidemann, Mike Shaw, Joe Piper, Cletus Zimmerman, Peter Zinnante III and PJ Zinnante, Jr.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue to be announced during the services.
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