Lena "Lee" M. Benesh

Lena “Lee” M. (Buttacavoli) Benesh died peacefully on February 15, 2018 at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, IL at the age of 96. Lena Buttacavoli was born on March 19, 1921 in Rockford, IL to Sicilian parents, Vincenzo and Maria (Caliva) Buttacavoli. Lena’s mother was a great influence in her life, as well as her older sister, Mary and brother, Johnny who helped raise Lee and her much loved twin sister, Jo.
Following World War II, Lee married Edward (Eddie) Benesh on September 14, 1946, whom she met at National Lock Company, where they both worked. They raised their two children, Pat and Rick, with loving care. Lee and Ed enjoyed over 60 years of marriage before Ed passed away in 2009.
Lee worked at Boylan Catholic High School in the cafeteria for 11 years. She loved her work and the people she worked with. After her retirement, she and her husband loved to entertain, play cards and follow the Chicago Cubs on the radio. One of Lee’s greatest joys was cooking and serving her delicious Italian pastas and cookies to her family and friends. Lee was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and aunt and will be missed dearly.
Lena is survived by her twin sister, Josephine (Zeke) Giorgi, Rockford; her children, Patricia Benesh of Madison, WI and Richard (Ruth) Benesh of Madison, WI; her three grandsons, Eric Benesh of Madison, WI, Brett (Jenessa) of Janesville, WI, and Joshua (Nicole) Benesh of Roseville, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Edward Benesh; her parents; her brothers, John (Angelina), Frank, Sonny (Loretta) and Peter (Antoinette) Buttacavoli, and her sister Mary (Al) Fioretti.
A special thanks to friends of Lee’s who were able to visit with her over the past several years at Presence Cor Mariae Center. The family also wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff at Presence Cor Mariae Center for the gentle and kind care they showed their mother.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 26, 2018 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 2400 Bell Ave, Rockford, IL 61103. Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, February 26, 2018 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.