Catherine ‘Kitty’ Benoit

Catherine graduated from Holy Ghost Academy in Tupper Lake and then attended Mildred Elley Secretarial and Business School in Albany and graduated in 1938. She was employed at Rockland State Hospital, Nyack, and then returned to Tupper Lake and worked for Northland Motors, Faust, and then Tupper Lake National Bank.

During World War II, because of the shortage of nurses, she trained as a nurse’s aide and volunteered evenings at Mercy General Hospital.

On Aug. 16, 1947, she married Winfred L Benoit at St. Alphonsus Church with the Rev. John Waterhouse officiating. In the next few years they become the parents of four children. She was active as a den mother for Cub Scout Pack 65, the Catholic Daughters of America and the St. Anne Society.

In 1965 with the closure of Sunmont VA Hospital, the family moved to Ohio and two years later to Albany, and made their home in Delmar. While in Delmar, she worked at the St. Thomas Church rectory, volunteered with the Red Cross Blood Bank and later earned her real estate license.

In 1982, Win and Catherine returned to their home in Tupper Lake. Catherine was active in the St. Alphonsus Church, serving as a eucharistic minister and involved with the Bishop’s Fund campaigns and the Bereavement Committee. She was also involved in many other Tupper Lake community organizations.

She is survived by her children: daughter Marie Anderson (David) of Jamestown and sons Thomas (Mary) Benoit of Niskayuna, James Benoit of Hornell and Joe (Alison) Benoit of Glenmont; her grandchildren: Abigail, Joshua and Joseph Anderson and Stephen, Harrison, James, Patrick, Katje and Jack Benoit; a great-grandson, Winfred Anderson; a brother-in-law, Frank Benoit (Helen) of Albany; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Winfred, in 2010, and by her two brothers: Paul McCormick and James McCormick.

The family has deep appreciation to and thanks the caregivers that supported Kitty during her last years. She required a high level of care and was supported by a loving and talented team that allowed her to live out her life journey in the house she was born and raised in, and in which she began her own family. Their support will never be forgotten. Sincere thanks to Diane and Dave Lablanc, Karla Clark, Jayda Strader, Shelly Brown, Anne Martin, Maryann Fletcher and Michele Hutchins as well as the folks that have helped Kitty in the past. The family also thanks Dr. George Cook and the High Peaks Hospice team that were so supportive.

Calling hours are scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6 at the Stuart-Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Tupper Lake. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7 at St. Alphonsus Church with a reception immediately following at the Knights of Columbus hall.

In memory of Kitty and in lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Knights of Columbus in Tupper Lake or to High Peaks Hospice.

Online condolences may be made at www.stuartfortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.