Patricia Benner

Ocala – Patricia Ann Benner, 79, was taken to heaven in the arms of angels on March 9, 2016 while sleeping peacefully at home surrounded by her family.  Pat was born November 23, 1936 in Buffalo, NY to Earl Vincent Hosterman and Anna Ruth Zazynski Hosterman.

In 1975, the family moved from Miami to Orange Springs in Marion County.  After the children were grown she went to work for George Steinbrenner at the Steinbrenner’s Yankee Inn.  She retired after many years at Munroe Regional Medical Center where she worked in ED Medical Records and on the switchboard.

A little known fact Pat was always proud of was that she was born on the first day that LIFE Magazine was ever published.  She enjoyed being at home and raising her 5 children.  She loved having her children and grandchildren stop by to visit.  She had a great ear for listening to the many good times and hard times they shared with her.  She was loved for her family favorite home cooked meals like pork chops and sauerkraut, baked chicken, noodles and corn and country spareribs…but her all time personal favorite was pork chops, mashed potatoes and peas!  Before Pat became too weak to get out, you would find her with her daughter, Edy out shopping in the mall or misc stores with the day always ending at Ruby Tuesdays!
It was always an exciting time for Pat when her sister Elaine came to visit.  Elaine always perked up Pat’s day when they got together for good conversations on the front porch and shopping and running errands together.

During the last 5 years of her life, Pat lived with her daughter Edy and son-in-law Scott.  Pat loved all her grandchildren and great grandchildren and enjoyed being a part of all their celebrations.  She always got excited when she was anticipating a birthday, a holiday or just knowing someone was coming to visit.  During that time, she found a special bond with her great granddaughter, Tiftin.  They spent afternoons after school together.  The two of them were often found playing “school” where “Nanny” was the student and Tiftin was the teacher.  Sharing books during reading time or playing with ‘sticker books” was a favorite for them, with Nanny usually ending up covered in stickers!  Snack time was a daily ritual. Tiftin would tell Nanny they needed to sit together.  She would squeeze into the same chair, Nanny would change the TV station, and they would share crackers and watch SpongeBob.  It was their special bond that kept Nanny going.  To quote Nanny, “My sweet little baby Tiftin, You are the bright light in my life”.  One of the last ‘favorites’ for Pat was Christmas 2015 when Stacia and Kayla, her granddaughters, got a piano as a gift from Nanny.  They played the piano and sang songs.  Pat never stopped talking about that.

She is preceded in death by her former husband, Richard A. Benner Sr. and son, Christopher J. Benner.  She is survived and lovingly remembered by her family, Rick Benner (Patty), Mark Benner (Francesca), daughter, Edy Godwin-Vandeventer (Scott), Jody Benner (Sandy); daughter-in-law, Beverly Benner; sister, Elaine Miller, Upper Marlboro, MD; grandchildren Justin Godwin, Tonya Forrest, Ricci Benner, Wyatt Benner, Bryan Benner, Stacia Benner, Kayla Benner, step-grandchildren; Dustin French, Christine McIntyre, Christy McIntyre, Jimmy Bingham, Micah Johnson, Mindy Martin; and 15 great-grandchildren. Memorial Service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 19, 2016 at Countryside Funeral Home, Anthony, FL.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kindred at Home Hospice in memory of Patricia.