Obituary

John F. Benoit, 92, passed into eternal life on December 3, 2021. Born on January 26, 1929, he was the son of Frederick J. and Alice C. (Grady) Benoit. His mother died three days later, and John was raised in the home of his loving aunt and uncle, Mae and Jim Gilrein, with his Dad as a daily presence in his life. He attended St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, which was then a boarding school, where he played on the football, basketball and baseball teams and graduated in 1947. He joined the U.S. Army and served in the Military Police Corps. Following his Honorable Discharge, he attended Worcester Junior College and played on its baseball team. In 1950 he and Phyllis A. (Amidon) Benoit were married in Saint Paul’s Cathedral, and they have been inseparable for the next 71 years. They were blessed with four children, thirteen grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. They loved to dance, and they enjoyed many trips together, spanning from Hawaii to his favorite destination of Ireland, the ancestral home of John’s Grady forebears.
John drove trailer trucks for his entire working life, including twenty-one years for Winter Hill Frozen Foods, which he considered to be a great employer. John was a gifted dancer, a fine artist, and a dedicated community member, serving as Grand Knight and other leadership positions in the Leicester Knights of Columbus; President of the St. Joseph’s Convent and School Building Fund, which financed the construction of a beautiful home for the Sisters of St. Joseph and four additional classrooms and a library to complete their elementary school; and member of the Leicester Town Hall Committee. John was a Fourth Degree Knight in the Bishop Wright Assembly of the Knights of Columbus.
Far and away the most important aspect of his life was his family, in whom he took great pride. He was devoted to his family and would do anything for us. He most clearly expressed his love for us through the countless actions and projects that he undertook on our behalf. He is survived by his wife Phyllis A. (Amidon) Benoit; his daughter, Linda B. Hogue and spouse, Douglas B. Hogue; his daughter, Alice M. Bernard and spouse Philip G. Bernard; and son, Paul F. Benoit and spouse, Robynn B. Eisley; granddaughters Kathryn M. (Bret) Ulibarri, Amy Benoit, Lynn M. Benoit, Marie E. (Roberto) Pompei, Molly B. Hogue and Mia A. Hogue; grandsons Andrew J. (Cindy) Benoit, Joseph J. (Shauna) Bernard, Brian P. (Kayla) Benoit, Robert F. (Kayla) Bernard, Francis X. Bernard, and Thomas F. Bernard; and thirteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by former daughters-in-law D. Annette Benoit and June A. Benoit. He was predeceased by his son, David W. Benoit, his grandson Christopher P. Bernard, and his best friend, his uncle, Brother Walter Grady, C.F.X.
John’s family wishes to extend our most sincere gratitude to Rabbi Richard Rudnick, Megan Thomas, M.D, and the entire staff of the Jewish Healthcare Center and JHC Hospice for the wonderful care John received over the past nineteen months, and the tremendous compassion that we all received during John’s final weeks. In particular, we especially acknowledge and thank Ms. Linda Parker for her unwavering love and attention to John’s wellbeing throughout this Covid-plagued era.
The funeral will be held on Tuesday, December 7, from the Alfred Roy & Sons Funeral Home 12 Hammond St. Worcester with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM in Saint Pius X Church 1161 Main St. Leicester. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester. Calling hours will be held on Monday, December 6, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in John’s memory to his favorite charity, Boys Town, P.O. Box 8000, Boys Town, NE 68010.
To share a memory of John or to sign his online guestbook, please visit www.Royfuneral.com

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