Gladys Mae Benoit

Gladys Mae (McKearney) Benoit, 84, of Tremont Street, Rehoboth, died surrounded by the love and devotion of her family on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts where she had been a patient for the past week. She was the beloved wife of Robert J. "Bucky" Benoit, Sr. to whom she was married on February 28, 1949. Born in Attleboro, Massachusetts on July 30, 1928, she was the daughter of the late James Leo McKearney, Sr. and her namesake, Gladys M. (Johnson) McKearney. She resided in Attleboro in her youth until moving to Rehoboth where she has lived for decades. Mrs. Benoit was a 1946 graduate of the former Dighton High School. She was primarily a homemaker devoted to her husband and children and later was employed as a cook for the Rehoboth School Department lunch program working at the North Rehoboth Elementary School and the Palmer River Elementary School. Mrs. Benoit was employed for many years as a cashier and later promoted to UPC coordinator at the former Fernandes Supermarket in Attleboro for 28 years. She was a former communicant of the former St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, Taunton. Her favorite pastimes included knitting, rug making, crocheting, cake decorating and gardening with a special love for flowers, her vegetable garden and cultivating blueberries. However, her most treasured times were those spent amidst her beloved immediate and extended family creating lifelong memories to cherish. Her family recalls with love her singing "Irish Eyes are Smiling" as she connected with her Irish heritage and her love for laughter and song. She was lovingly referred to as "Sis" or "Sister," throughout life by her parents and siblings. In addition to her husband of 64 years, she leaves four children: Robert J. Benoit, Jr. and his wife, Barbara A. (Gill) Benoit, of Rehoboth; Stephen L. Benoit of Sandwich; Pamela J. Alexson of Rehoboth and Lisa A. LaCombe and her husband, John G. "Jack" LaCombe, Jr., of Rehoboth; her grandchildren: Tanya E. Benoit, Jennifer L. Pouliot, Laura E. Spath, Sarah C. Curry, Tiffany M. Benoit, Daniel L. Benoit, Timothy P. Alexson, and the late Christopher R. Benoit who died in 1994 and nine, soon to be ten, great grandchildren. She also leaves her siblings: Janet A. Dyer and her husband, Edward A. Dyer, of Seekonk; Richard A. McKearney and his wife, Betty McKearney, of Attleboro; Raymond C. McKearney and his wife, Elizabeth McKearney, of Rehoboth; Gary S. McKearney and his wife, Kim McKearney, of Rehoboth; two sisters-in-law: Betty Lou McKearney, wife of the late James Leo McKearney, Jr., of Wrentham and Helen McKearney, wife of the late Ronald E. "Mac" McKearney, of Rehoboth; three generations of nieces and nephews, extended family members and dear friends. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend visitation on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM in the "Memorial Chapel" of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home - the national historic Colonel Obed Robinson Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue (exit 5 off I-95 N or S, go right at end of ramp, mile on left), Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. Relatives and Friends are cordially invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 10:00 AM at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, One Power Street, Norton. There will be no funeral cortege from the funeral home prior to the commencement of the funeral Mass. Burial will follow Steven's Corner Cemetery, Rehoboth. A children's room is available during visitation. Those in need of transportation to visitation may simply call the funeral home at (508) 695-0200 to make an advance reservation for such gratis local transportation. An invitation will be extended to join the family for a continuation of the celebration of Mrs. Benoit's life following graveside services through fellowship and refreshments at a location to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mrs. Benoit's name and honor may be made to the Dana Farber, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.dana-farber.org/gift . For additional information or to send the family an expression of sympathy, please visit our online guestbook located on the internet at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com . Arrangements under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. (508) 695-0200.