Greenwood - It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of our mother, Maria Benoit, on Saturday March 3, 2018 in the Aberdeen Hospital Palliative Care Unit with our dad by her side. Her unwavering faith in God and the love and prayers of family, friends, and many supporters carried her through a courageous battle with cancer.
Mom was born on June 27, 1948 in Meyjel, Holland to Gerardus and Wilhelmina (Smolenaars) Joosten and immigrated to Canada as a young child in 1950. She was the third born of five children, including Henry, Nasha, Wilhelmina and Hubertina. Throughout her life, she maintained a sweet and simple demeanor that won the trust and hearts of many.
Mom spent her childhood years just outside of beautiful Baddeck in Cape Breton until her family moved to Ohio, Antigonish Co. in 1962. She graduated from St. Andrews High School and worked at the CIBC Bank in Antigonish for two years. She then attended Teachers’ College in Truro, Nova Scotia from where she graduated in 1970. She then went on to teach at MacPherson Elementary School in Antigonish for 4 years. It was during this time that she met her soul mate and our father, Edmund. They married on July 8, 1972 at the Saint Croix Church in Pomquet, Nova Scotia and then moved to New Glasgow in 1974. She taught at the Chelsea Street School in Westville for 6 years during which time they welcomed us into the family. She made a career change to work for Dad as office manager/bookkeeper when he opened his construction company, Riverview General Construction. She retired with him in 2008 to MacLellans Brook Road.
Married for 45 years, Mom and Dad raised us, Nicole and Melinda, in and around New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Possessing a true servant’s heart, Mom faithfully cared for family and friends through delicious cooking/baking from scratch, sewing, quilting and crafting.
Mom was an active member of the Catholic Church. She was a lector, taught religious education classes, and was a member of the CWL for many years. She was a member of a very tight-knit prayer group where she offered up prayers for others with her friends. She was an active member of the Thistle Quilt Guild where she was surrounded by women who shared her passion for quilting and she always looked forward to Thursday night Square Dancing with the Highland Squares Club where she and Dad would “dance the night away”.
She will be fondly remembered by us for her love of clothing in the color red, her collection of blue delft dishes and windmills, her quirky desire to collect cookbooks, and the one failed “glazed carrots” recipe attempt.
Her surviving family members are numerous, but mainly include her loving husband of 45 years, Edmund Benoit and she will be dearly missed by her two daughters and their spouses: Nicole (Jamie Hynes), Melinda (Brian Foster), her pride and joy – granddaughters: Emily and Charlotte; immediate family: brother, Henry, his wife Effie Joosten; sister, Wilhelmina, her husband Donnie Stewart; sister, Hubertina, her husband Kenny Stewart and brother-in-law, Danny Murphy; other family members: uncle, Leonard Joosten and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was predeceased by her parents, Gerry and Wilhelmina Joosten; sister, Nasha Murphy, and an infant brother.
The family will receive visitors at R.H. Porter Funeral Home, 55 Almont Ave., New Glasgow on Tuesday, March 6th from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. The funeral service will be held at the Saint John the Baptist Church, New Glasgow on Wednesday, March 7th at 11 am, Father Tom MacNeil officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. A reception will follow in the church hall. Family flowers only please. Memorial donations may be made to the Aberdeen Palliative Care Society.
We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support that we received in so many heartfelt ways from those of you who shared this journey with us. God Bless you all. Condolences may be sent by visiting: www.rhporter.ca