Eleanor Benjamin

Our loving mother, Eleanor S. Benjamin of Chestertown, MD, died Monday, August 11, 2003, in Washington, DC. She was 90 years old, the recipient of a long and wonderful life. Born June 5, 1913, in Kerhonkson, Ulster County, NY, she was the daughter of the late George and Emma VerNooy Dunn Sherman. Mrs. Benjamin was a graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz, and was a school teacher in Suffolk County, NY, where she met her husband, C. DeWitt Benjamin of Riverhead. He was born in Shelter Island, NY, the son of Dr. F. Everett & Ruth Mallmann Benjamin. She and DeWitt were married on July 6, 1935, and lived in Riverhead, where they raised three sons, Frank Everett, Barry DeWitt, and Wayne Douglas Benjamin. Once her boys were raised, Mrs. Benjamin returned to the classroom, and was a retired teacher of New York State. While helping her husband manage his general insurance business,She also made time for all her children, friends, and neighbors. She was a wonderful and caring mother. After retiring, she and her husband lived for a while in Apache Junction, AZ. In 1985, they were honored for fifty years of marriage at the Old Wharf Restaurant in Chestertown and soon after that they moved there, first living at Chester Harbor. Her husband predeceased her, dying July 10, 1995, at the age of 90. Mrs. Benjamin is survived by her three sons and daughter-in-laws, Frank Everett & Susanne Coburn Benjamin of Galena, MD, Barry D. & Margaret Bonnert Benjamin of Mattituck, NY, and Dr. Wayne D. & Lynn Goodall Benjamin of Chestertown; twelve grandchildren, Cathleen Countz of Meeker, OK, Maria Nirschl of Grand Prairie, TX, Caroline Garcia of Fayetteville, NC, Diana Benjamin of Pensacola, FL, Deborah Richardson of Rochester, NY, Kimberly Small of Apex, NC, Eleanor Torres of Middletown, DE, Jennifer Delboy of Chestertown, MD, Bradford Benjamin of Sacremento, CA, and Blair,Bethany and Greer Benjamin of River Road, Chestertown, MD; and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her best friend, Roey Goodall of Chestertown, MD. In that through her caring ways, she brought joy and happiness to so many, she is fondly remembered, and will be sorely missed. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, August 23, 2003, in the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home,P.A., 130 Speer Road, Chestertown, MD, at 11:00 AM, with interment at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Chestertown, MD. Contributions in Eleanor Benjamin’s name can be made to the Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 126, Chestertown, MD 21620. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., Chestertown, MD.