Frances M Benitez

Frances Marie Benitez, 82, passed away on June 15, 2016. Her memorial service will be on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 10am at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with Father Jonathan Sorensen officiating. A special thanks to Pastor Leroy and Michelle Wyre of the First Assembly of God in Scottsbluff. Visitation will be from 11AM to 7 PM with a Rosary service at 6pm on Friday, June 17, 2016 at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be sent to1724 3rd Ave, Scottsbluff, NE 69361. Tributes may be left at www.dugankramer.com

Frances was born in Quanah, TX on April 5, 1934 to Guadalupe and Frances Vallejo. She married her beloved husband, Guadalupe Benitez, on September 28, 1958.

Frances was a loving, caring, giving, and independent woman. She cared for people her entire life. She not only cared for friends and family, but also as a career, having retired from the Aging Office of Western Nebraska as an in home caregiver in 2011 at the youthful age of 77. Frances didn’t keep working because she had to; she continued her employment because she loved it. It was not a job to her, it was a lifestyle. It was in her nature to help and care for others and her occupation was merely an extension of her life. She possessed an inherent desire to provide financial, physical, emotional and spiritual support to all those around her.

Those who knew her knew she was extraordinarily independent and her vibrance and vigor belied her age. It was not uncommon to see her at a garage sale at 6 am, working and cooking in the afternoon, and then washing her car at 11pm or at Wal-Mart at midnight all in the same day. She loved to travel. She had been through Europe, Mexico, Canada, and all over the United States. She loved baseball and football. She never missed a game of her favorite teams, the Broncos, Huskers, and Rockies. She watched the Rockies up to her last day. She also loved to cook. Among her many talents, she was truly amazing in the kitchen, and her food will be sincerely missed. She was an incredible gardener who took pride in her yard and always kept it immaculately maintained. She was the recipient of the Golden Spade Award. She also had a beautiful singing voice and a penchant for garage saling.

Frances was a remarkable woman. She was an exceptional mother, (great) grandmother, sister, and friend. She was a special lady, and will leave a void in the hearts of all who had the privilege to know her. She will be sincerely missed by everyone who knew her.

Frances is survived by her sisters Josephine Aguallo, Sandy Morales, Shirley (Fidel) Zamora, Lucy (Mike) Orozco (who also provided care throughout the last years of her life), her brothers Frank Vallejo, Pete (Lupe) Vallejo, Ralph (Gloria) Vallejo, sister-in-law Delia Vallejo, her sons James Benitez (Lydia whom she considered the daughter she never had) and Chuck (Lori whom she also considered her daughter), her grandchildren James Dean Benitez II and wife Cassandra (whom she considered her granddaughter, and who provided some of Frances’ most essential care through her last day), Katrina (Christopher) Trevino, Charli (Gary Romel), Lorianna Benitez, Charles Benitez, Jr and Aubrey (Brandon) Gonzalez, her great-grandchildren James Dean III, Alexus Eve, Logan Amaris, and Ace Cal-El Benitez, Noah Makyi Trevino, Sidney, Taylor, Corey Soule, and Benelli Gonzalez. She is also survived by Steve Olsen whom she always considered part of her family and considered her “other” son, as well as numerous other cousins, nieces, nephews, and God-children.

She was preceded in death by her husband Guadalupe Benitez, parents Lupe and Frances Vallejo, brothers Bill, Jesse, Lupe, Carlos and Rito Vallejo, sisters Connie Torres and Susan Maldonado and great grandchildren Christopher, and twin brothers Nehemiah and Kanaan Trevino, brother in law Eduardo Torres Sr., and sister in laws Helen, Margie, and Helen Vallejo.