Lavona Benoit

PORT RICHEY, Fla. -- Lavona Benoit passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, at her home in Port Richey.

Born March 19, 1946, Lavona was 70 at the time of her passing.

It is ironic that her heart failed, as throughout her life, Lavona demonstrated an enormous capacity for love and affection. As a wife, mother, grandmother, extended family member and friend, she was a constant source of enthusiasm, encouragement, wisdom and joy.

Lavona began every day with prayer and Scripture, inviting the Lord Jesus to direct her thinking and actions. She prayed every day for the well-being of her family, and most especially her children and grandchildren.

Lavona's love for people shaped her professional life, which was spent as a nurse. Much more a vocation than a job, she combined compassion with professionalism in over 40 years of service in Cape Girardeau at Saint Francis Hospital, with the private practice of Dr. Ron Robinson and, lastly, with the American Red Cross.

Lavona and "Bert," her husband of 48 years, retired to Port Richey in 2008.

Lavona is survived by her husband, Albert Benoit of Port Richey; her daughter, Michaele Benoit (James) Riley of Cape Girardeau; and her son, Michael (Angie) Benoit of Waynesville, Missouri. She also is survived by her grandchildren, Luke Riley (Michaele) and Kolton Benoit (Michael), as well as a long list of honorary grandchildren and great-grandchildren Lavona adopted as her own.

A visitation and funeral Mass were held Sunday and Monday, respectively, at St. James the Apostle Catholic Church in Port Richey. An additional memorial service will be held in Missouri in late spring.

The family requests memorials be made to the American Red Cross.