Evelyn Benoit

Evelyn (Guenette) Benoit died November 7th surrounded by her family who extend their sincere gratitude to everyone at Life Care Center of Leominster for the love and care they gave to Evelyn the last three years of her life.

Evelyn Jeanne Guenette was born in Leominster, September 20, 1941, daughter of Iva (Smith) and Alphonse Guenette. Sister to Edward. Evelyn grew up on Cottage Street and attended Leominster schools, graduating in 1959. Raised with the belief that the only thing that mattered about a person was if they had a good heart, Evelyn set on a path to treat everyone she met in that manner.

As a high school student and cheerleader, she met and fell in love with a basketball player from a rival school, Donald Benoit. Evelyn and Don were married in October of 1960. They settled in Luneburg, raised a family of five and were married for 27 years.

Nicknamed, “the lovely Evelyn” by a close friend, she was truly loved by all who knew her. She touched many hearts, held many hands and helped many individuals throughout the course of her life.

A born artist, Evelyn worked in several mediums, but her greatest gift was design, both floral and interior. Her love of art was a constant throughout her life. She enjoyed shopping and traveling with her friend, Margaret on their quest for frugal finds that they turned into elaborate visual experiences. Even her gift wrapping became legend. Any gift wrapped by Evelyn was one the receiver hesitated to open out of pure joy of the wrapped package itself. A member and volunteer at the Fitchburg Art Museum, Evelyn created spectacular floral designs for numerous events including the annual Art in Bloom.

Evelyn worked as a Floral Designer with her treasured friend, Fred Reynolds. Together they created amazing floral arrangement for countless weddings. Later in life, Evelyn was the co-owner beside her daughter, Lyn at their home design shop, Décor and More in Lunenburg. She cherished that experience.

Her home was always beautifully appointed. Friends and family enjoyed seeing how she put things together. Especially at Christmas, when others put out the same decorations year after year, Evelyn couldn’t help but create a unique experience each year, always including the family traditional treasures. For several years her home was an anticipated stop on the Lunenburg Holiday House Tours.

Evelyn was a mother to five children and a second mother to several of their friends. She was a best friend to Rita Siciliano since 7th grade. A treasured sister-in-law and aunt to many nieces and nephews. Her favorite role though was being a grandmother. She often said, “you don’t know how much you can love someone until you become a mother, but then you become a grandmother and it is beyond words.” Her grandkids loved making crafts with her, reading, singing silly songs, watching and learning about birds with her. They hold dearly the memories of her Christmas tradition of gingerbread house (and train) making. She loved every one of her grandchildren beyond “a bushel and a peck” and her grandchildren’s love for her was unmeasurable, beyond a “barrel and a heap”.

Blessed by the love and memories of their mother, Don, Sharon, Julie, Lyn and Stephen, and their family, Lisa, Dylan, Cameron, Adam and Alissa, Les, Taylor, Connor, and Rylee, Greg, Betame, Tesfanesh, and Soleil, Bo, Tyler, Hunter, and Parker, Maggie and Luke, invite those whom Evelyn loved, and who loved her, to celebrate her life on December 19th at the Fitchburg Art Museum with a calling hour at 11am, memorial service at 12pm and a celebration of life luncheon to follow surrounded by the beauty of art, family and friendship that meant so much to her.