Glenna M. Benoit, age 99, of Bradley, passed away Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at Miller Healthcare Center in Kankakee.
Visitation will be held 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 1, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bradley. Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery in Bourbonnais.
Glenna was born January 28, 1919, of Peter & Olive Hathaway Kolwelter. She married Paul G. Benoit. He preceded her in death.
Surviving are two daughters, Judy & Bob Sunko of Darien, CT, and Jane Cahan of Villa Grove; one son & two daughters-in-law, David & Mary Benoit of Phoenix, AZ, and Jan Benoit of Freeport; her grandchildren, Christopher Benoit, Tracy & Tom Koerner, Chelsea Benoit & Eric Piwcewicz, Todd & Victoria Sunko, Wade & Alessandra Sunko, Jennifer & Chris Boughey, Jeffrey & Angie Benoit, Rebecca & Brian Olson, Chad & Tamie Rolph; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Glenna led a very active life raising her family of five, volunteering in the community, and serving on many committees. She and Paul instilled in their young family a love for travel. They drove thousands of miles across the U.S. and Canada, visiting relatives in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Later, she and Paul developed a love for camping throughout the U.S. and with the Kankakee Valley Wanderers. She loved swimming, boating, and water skiing with the family.
Her volunteer endeavors included den mother for the Cub Scouts. She volunteered at the St. Joseph School library and served at various times as the president of the St. Anne Sodality of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She was a member and officer of the Daughters of Isabella of St. Joseph Church and also a member and president of the Bradley Bourbonnais Seniors. She was a trip chairman for the organization for years.
She was also an excellent seamstress. She and Paul loved dancing. At the age of 81, she fulfilled a life long dream of taking tap dancing lessons. Glenna performed for years with the Merry Music Makers in the Spice of Life talent show held in Bradley. She was also the director of the group for many years. The group continued to entertain in nursing homes through her 80’s in the Kankakee County area. In her early 90’s, she sang with Pete Henrissey’s group in nursing homes.
Glenna remained an active member of the Gleaner Life Insurance Society throughout her life. She was a member of the “Early Bird Senior Swimmers” for many years at BBCHS until the age of 92. She was an active member of the Moose organization and a member of the BB Historical Society. She kept her mind active by doing word search books and playing Bingo.
In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents; one son, Harold Benoit; one daughter, Janet Benoit; three brothers, Randall Kolwelter, Robert Kolwelter, and Jim Kolwelter.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bishop McNamara Catholic School (Bradley site).
