HELEN M. BENSON

YOUNGSTOWN - Helen M. Benson, 95, of the Inn at Christine Valley formerly of Boardman passed away  on Monday, Feb. 6, 2012.

Helen was born May 17, 1916, in Youngstown, a daughter of Patrick and Bridget Delia Granahan Gillespie, who immigrated to the United States from County Mayo, Ireland.

As a child, she was a member of the Youngstown Immaculate Conception Parish and attended its parochial school, transferring later to Youngstown St. Patrick Parish and was a current member of St. Dominic Parish in Youngstown.

After graduating from East High School in 1934, Helen graduated from Peters Comptometer School in 1935. She worked in the auditing office at McKelvey’s Department Store for six years, then as a comptometer operator in the cost department at Youngstown Sheet and Tube for six years. She continued to work part-time for Sears and McKelvey’s throughout her married years.

In 1947, she married her husband of 17 years, Philip Benson, who passed away in 1964.

She returned to work for the Youngstown Sheet and Tube/L TV Steel, working in the cost and time office departments at Stop 14 in Struthers, as well as various mill offices in Campbell for 15 years, retiring in 1979.

Helen spent many volunteer hours at St. Elizabeth Hospital as a member of the Ladies of Charity and was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society of St. Dominic Church. She loved to play the piano and to travel.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter, Dr. Anna Benson; her son-in-law, Paul Mastriana of Boardman; a niece, Virginia (Dan) Moriarty of  Chatham, N.J.; and a nephew, Robert P. Loftus of  Avon.

A sister, Mary Virginia Loftus and brother in-law, Robert J. Loftus are deceased.

Family and friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday at the Fox Funeral Home and from 9:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. Dominic Church, 77 E. Lucius Ave. in Youngstown, prior to the 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial, celebrated by Fr. William Rock

 Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Boardman.

The family would like to thank Helen’s doctors, the staff of the Inn at Christine Valley, Maria, and MVI Hospice for the love, support and kind compassionate care that was given to Helen.

 Family and friends may visit www.foxfuneralhome.org to view this obituary and send condolences.