Ann Marie “Mary” Benanto, age 100, of Ansonia, peacefully entered into eternal rest on October 2, 2012, at Shady Knoll Health Care in Seymour. She was the beloved wife for 70 years to the late Louis A. Benanto.
Mrs. Benanto was born in Ansonia on July 28, 1912, daughter of the late Michael and Josephine DiMartino Forti. She was employed as an inspector at Schick Razor in Milford until her retirement. Mary was a communicant of Holy Rosary Church in Ansonia and a member of its Rosary Guild. Among the many interests she enjoyed were traveling with friends and family, playing cards, and gourmet cooking. Her specialties were Italian cuisine, lemon meringue pies, and éclairs. She loved to entertain and was a fabulous hostess. There was always too much food! She and her husband had a passion for dancing especially Latin American dances and enjoyed going to New York City to the Latin Quarters and Chateau Madrid. She was also a “fashionista” long before the term became popular and never left the house without everything matching. Mary has left us all with beautiful memories and will surely be missed.
She is survived by a son, Louis J. Benanto of Honolulu, HI, a loving and devoted daughter, Louise Capozzi and her husband Peter of Ansonia and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by brothers, Mariano & Nicholas Forti and a sister, Josephine Sampieri.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral on Saturday October 6, 2012, at 10:00 am at Holy Rosary Church in Ansonia for a Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Peter Cemetery in Derby. Visiting hours will be held on SATURDAY MORNING from 8:00 am until the procession leaves for church at the SPINELLI-RICCIUTI FUNERAL HOME, 62 Beaver Street in Ansonia. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Holy Rosary Church Organ Fund through the funeral home. Mary’s family would like to express a special thanks to the staff at Shady Knoll for all their compassion and support.
