Sr. Caroline Benigni, CSJ, died Aug. 22. She was 88 years old. Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Aug. 26.Caroline Benigni was born April 28, 1925, in Ecorse, the youngest of six children of Rudolph and Pauline (Reichenbacher) Benigni. She is survived by a sister-in-law, June, and several nieces and nephews.
Caroline graduated from Nativity High School and worked for two years for the U. S. Department of Defense in Detroit before her entrance into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth on July 2, 1945. She received the name Sr. Mary Ronald at her reception of the habit Jan. 3, 1946, but later returned to her baptismal name. She pronounced first vows Jan. 3, 1948, and final vows on Jan. 3, 1951.
Sr. Benigni received her Bachelor of Science degree in business education with a minor in social sciences from Nazareth College. In 1969, she earned a master’s degree in business education from the University of Detroit. Sr. Benigni taught in many Detroit-area schools, including St. Joan of Arc, St. Veronica, St. Rita, St. James and Bishop Foley High School. She also taught at St. Mary, Flint, and spent many years at Catholic Central in Muskegon, where she also served as a baseball and tennis coach for the high school girls. Later she served as an in-house substitute teacher and tutor at Manistee Catholic Central for 15 years. A relentless advocate for her high school students, she worked especially hard to empower her girls to succeed in both the business world and life.
The Eucharist was the center of Sr. Benigni’s life. She fully lived out the vision of Vatican II to be among the people of God and support them in their deepest needs. Her vibrant, friendly personality witnessed well the inclusive love of God. Her sense of humor and deep kindness helped to unite people wherever she served. Even with diminished health in the last few years, she continued to serve as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion to the homebound, and as a healing presence of concern at almost every funeral service in the Manistee community.
A woman of many interests, Sr. Benigni loved to travel and saw most of the States and a good part of Europe. She truly enjoyed music and theater, followed world news closely, strove to promote justice, and was an avid sports fan. She lived life fully, and thus enlivened the lives of so many in her daily encounters. No one was a stranger in Sr. Benigni’s eyes. All were potential friends. Those who knew her best, especially Sr. Fran Stefanski, SJ, with whom she lived for many years, will remember her as a profoundly loving and special gift in their lives. Her buoyant presence will be greatly missed.
