DOROTHY MARTHA BENSON
May 18, 1919 - December 15, 2007
Dorothy was born the fourth of seven children to John and Jemima Mooney on May 18, 1919 in Instow Saskatchewan. She completed her education at Shaunovan Sask. and then moved to Sarnia Ontario where she attended nurses training in the Sarnia General Hospital, receiving her Registered Nurses designation February 24th 1942. Later that same year she met her future husband, Nelson Burgess Benson, they were married November 15, 1944. They settled in Sarnia where Nels worked as a Customs Officer on the international bridge and Dorothy as a nurse in the Carruthers Medical Clinic. Three years after Nelsons death in 1985, Dorothy moved to Salmon Arm where she resided until her death. She was a member of St. John’s Anglican Church, Salmon Arm.
Dorothy will be fondly remembered by her family and many friends, both in BC and Ontario for her strong sense of right and wrong, her dignity, her graciousness, her sense of humor and love of a good joke, her sparkling eyes and ready smile which was frequently accompanied by a delightful giggle.
She is survived by her sister Agnes Meinert (Leon) of Shaunavon Sask.; her step-granddaughter Judy Smulders of Sarnia Ontario; her dear friend Alice Lewis and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dorothy was predeceased by her parents John and Jemima (“Mima”) Mooney; her husband Nelson Benson; her brothers John McKinley Mooney and James Barrett Mooney (Irene); her sister, Elsie Berggren (Oscar); Mary Rotnem (Arthur); Sheila Betty Fleur de Lys (John); her stepdaughter Joan Benson Whiting; niece Linda Meinergy – Harb (Nagzie); and nephew David Lee Fleur de Lys.
A memorial service for Dorothy Benson will be held at St. John’s Anglican Church, Salmon Arm, Saturday, December 22, 2007 at 3:00 p.m., the Rev. Dr. Ted Celiz officiating. There will be refreshments following the service in the church hall.
Cremated remains will be interred at a later date in Sarnia, Ontario.
Donations in Dorothy’s memory may be made to St. John’s Anglican Church, Box 721, Salmon Arm, BC, V1E 4N8 or the Vascular Department, Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, 311 Columbia Street, Kamloops, BC, V2C 2T1.
Arrangements entrusted to FISCHER’S FUNERAL SERVICES & CREMATORIUM LTD., Salmon Arm, (250) 833-1129, fischers@sunwave.net.