Our sweet Dad - a true angel on earth - was taken before we were able to say our goodbyes on July 21st, 2018. Ben was born on August 28th, 1932 and lived a full and joyful life.
Ben grew up in Milford, MA, the son of the late Ben C. Lancisi and May Mackey. His Mother, ran the well-known May Mackey School for Dance. Ben’s sister Jeanne joined his Mother as a trained dancer eventually taking over the business when his Mother died at a young age. Ben’s Father loved music throughout his life. His Father taught music at Milford High School and also led an Orchestra - the one that would later play at his wedding.
Ben enjoyed summers growing up at the Boston Cape with his dear sisters, Jeanne and Paula, his brother, Vinny, his extended family and so many treasured friends. Growing up, Ben was known as “Buzzy” and had a passion for playing tennis. He was an excellent and talented player which you could easily see when you walked into his childhood home in Milford where there was a room full of his trophies.
Ben graduated from Boston College and received his Master’s Degree from Wharton Business School of Finance. After serving in the military and finishing school, Ben started a career in sales which led to a very successful career in the women’s “lingerie” clothing business. There were many good times and laughs with our traveling lingerie salesman! After getting settled into his career, Ben was on a flight traveling for business and met a nice Stewardess. Her name was Dorothy (Dottie) Kaufman, who later became his wife and the woman he cherished for 57 years. Together, Dottie and Ben raised three wonderful children.
Ben and Dottie raised their family in Wilmette, Illinois during the early years and relocated to New Orleans (Kenner) in 1973 where Ben continued his career in sales and Dottie worked for Delta Airlines. Ben and Dottie loved playing bridge with neighbors and enjoyed many sweet friendships over the years in Kenner. Though we never thought we would see Ben put his traveling sales bags down, the day came and he finally retired from Komar selling sleepwear and their extended clothing lines. Ben was loved and deeply missed by his co-workers.
Family and the Catholic faith always came first for Ben. Outside of his family, Ben’s life was centered around the Catholic Church where he gave his time and treasures. Next to his family and Church, was his love of great Italian food. His favorite was Cappelletti’s (little hats of filled pasta) that were homemade by his Mother when growing up and later by Dottie for Ben and the family. There were many fond memories of family gatherings at some of Ben's favorite Italian restaurants. Ben loved to celebrate Birthday's and Christmas! When his kids were younger, years were spent traveling to Boston to be close to family for the holidays. Ben would wear himself out shopping every year as he got such a big kick out of having a Christmas tree stuffed with gifts for his family to open Christmas morning!
Ben was always in his element when he was with his siblings, Jeanne, Paula and Vinny, and he adored their children Danny, Meg, Martha, Paula, Michael & Andrew. There were endless laughs and lots of jokes when they were together. Buzzy was generous with his advice for his nieces and nephews! He deeply loved his 5 Grandchildren, Christian, Jessica, Justin, Kaitlyn & Ben. He was so proud of each of them and would light up any time they were with him and over long talks on the phone.
We couldn’t have asked for a more devoted Father and Husband. He was the Dad to cheer us up on the hardest days, our daily mentor, and the man who was always by our side supporting us through thick and thin. Ben cherished his beautiful wife, Dottie. She was his pride and joy and he loved her more than ever. Ben was a devoted, gregarious, persistent, generous, passionate and witty man.
Ben was so very loved and will be greatly missed by his wife, Dottie Lancisi, son, Mark Lancisi and his wife Laurie Lancisi, daughters, Lisa Schnitzius and Susan Hayes, sister, Paula Lancisi and her husband, Patrick Keane, brother, Vincent Lancisi and his wife Robin Van Scoy, his nieces and nephews, cousins and all of his precious friends and coworkers.
Memorials:
In lieu of flowers you could make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) in the name of Benedict W. Lancisi.
Services:
Services will begin at 10am (visitation) and Mass begins at 11:30
Saint Philip Neri Catholic Church
6500 Kawanee Ave, Metairie, LA 70003
Phone: (504) 887-5535
Website: http://spnparish.net
Following the Mass, we'll head over to the funeral home followed by a lunch and reception:
Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home
5100 Pontchartrain Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70124
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