Lifelong Danbury Resident Michelle (Moses) Benton, 70, has Died

Michelle M. Benton

Michelle (Moses) Benton, 70, of Danbury, wife of the late Richard G. Benton, died peacefully on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at Danbury Hospital surrounded by her loving family.

Mrs. Benton was born in Danbury, December 20, 1947, a daughter of the late Michael C. and Adele (Basher) Moses. She attended St. Peter School and graduated from Danbury High School with the Class of 1965. She entered the Convent of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Wilton, CT where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. She attended Western CT State University where she received her Master’s degree in Education and Doctoral degree in Pastoral Counseling from Lafayette College. A retired educator with the Danbury Public School system, Mrs. Benton taught at Morris St. School a position she held for twenty-five years. She was a member of the local, state and national educators associations.

A lifelong Danbury resident, Mrs. Benton was an active member of St. Anthony Maronite Catholic Church. Mrs. Benton's kind and loving heart was only surpassed by her limitless generosity. She personified the phrase "doing God's work" on Earth. She established many of St. Anthony's outreach programs including the Thanksgiving Food Drive whereby sixty families of the Danbury area were provided for on Thanksgiving. Mrs. Benton also established the Christ Tree Christmas program whereby less fortunate children were given a gift of clothing and a toy bought by members of St. Anthony. She was a member of the Order of St. Sharbel and a recipient of the National Apostolate of Maronite Massabki Medal.

She was a member of the Danbury Emmaus Community, Cursillo Community and served as a Director of the  Maronite Youth program for the Diocese of St. Maron, Brooklyn, NY.

She will be sorely missed most especially by her family and friends.

Michelle is survived by a daughter, Michaela Petrini and her husband Nicholas Jowdy of Bethel; three sisters, Beverly Ackell and her husband Edward of Danbury, Mary Lou Abdella of Danbury and Phyllis Moses of Danbury; two grandchildren, Dylan and Amelia Petrini; 2 nephews, Francis and Michael Zaccagnini and their families, many cousins and many dear friends.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, May 21, 2018 at 10:30 am in St. Anthony Maronite Catholic Church, 17 Granville Ave., Danbury. Interment will take place at Weston Priory Cemetery, Weston, VT.

The family will receive friends at St. Anthony Maronite Catholic Church on Sunday, May 20, 2018 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Contributions in Mrs. Benton’s memory may be made to St. Anthony Maronite Catholic Church.

Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home, 9 Granville Ave., Danbury is in charge of arrangements.

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Submitted by Danbury, CT

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