Mary Morley Benedict, 93, of Fayetteville, passed away on Thursday, April 23, 2015.
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada to Albert and Susan Morley, Mary resided in the Manlius and Fayetteville area for many years. She retired in 1981 as cook-manager at Fayetteville Elementary School.
She volunteered for many years at Upstate Medical Center, earning a pin for 5,000 volunteer hours. Mary was a skilled wood worker and could make just about anything. Her works included furniture, wooden bowls, bird houses and numerous arts and crafts. She especially loved making her wooden Christmas cards that she would send to family and friends every year.
Mary loved the outdoors and the annual fishing trips to Canada in her younger years. She participated in numerous folk marches and enjoyed camping, boating, fishing and gardening. She took great pride in her flower beds, especially in her jack in the pulpits. More than anything though, her greatest love was for her family.
She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Claude M. Benedict; her companion of 15 years, Frank Schelah; her sister Evelyn Model; and her four brothers Austin, Henry, Herbert and John Morley, who was killed at Bastagne while with the 82nd Airborne in 1945.
She is survived by her son John (Jeanne) Benedict of Nelson; her daughter Sharon (William) Osuchowski of Pompey; five grandchildren Kurt (Kathleen) Benedict, Eric (Julie) Benedict, Sherri Benedict (Steven Williams), Erica (Timothy) Thomas, and Christine (Alexander) Sen; eight great-grandchildren Tyler, Rebecca, Zackery and Emily Benedict, Emma and Clara Thomas, and Caitlin Osuchowski and Sofia Sen.
Calling hours will be 1 pm to 2:30 pm Wednesday, April 29th, with a funeral service to follow at 2:30 pm at the Eaton-Tubbs Fayetteville Chapel, 7191 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. Interment will take place in the Manlius Village Cemetery following the service.
The family wishes to thank the staff and residents at Maple Downs for their love and support, her dear neighbors in Fayette Manor, and her wonderful caregivers at Hospice and Peregrine Home Care.
Contributions may be made to Hospice of CNY, 990 Seventh North St., Liverpool, NY 13088.