Mary Kathleen Benore

Mary Kathleen (Poiry) Benore passed away on July 20, 2016. She was born on September 20, 1927 to Nicholas and Frances Josephine (Richardson) Poiry in Seneca, Missouri, and was baptized at St. Canera Catholic Church in Neosho, Missouri. She grew up in Ohio and Missouri, with her brothers William Poiry, Nicholas Poiry, Robert Poiry and Patrick Poiry (deceased). She made life-long friendships at both Arcadia and Whitmer High Schools, graduating from Whitmer at the age of 16. White attending Davis Business College during the beginning of WWII, Electric Auto-Lite asked for business students with shorthand skills and she was hired to work for the Vice President of Contract Termination. She recalled spending several days with him and a representative of Grumman Aircraft, where she hand-witnessed the signatures terminating contracts at the end of WWII. When her fiancée returned from serving in the US Army during the war, she introduced him to the personnel manager at Auto-Lite, and they hired him in government contract sales. Kathy, as her friends called her, raised 6 children and was a devoted mother and homemaker. She was a devout Catholic and an active member and volunteer at Blessed Sacrament Church while her children attended there. She enjoyed writing, was a member of a writer’s guild, and was a published author. As a high school student, she played the violin in a Bowling Green College musical and briefly studied violin at Findlay College. She taught lessons to children and adults in her home for many years. She never hung up her bow, playing in the senior citizens’ band in Sylvania, Ohio. She loved music and sang in Sweet Adelines for many years, and enjoyed sewing, tole painting, writing stories and visiting coffee shops. She had many fond memories of traveling with friends around the country and staying in Elderhostels. She liked gardening, and her hollyhocks were enjoyed by everyone who drove by her home. Over the years, she developed an interest in real estate, holding licenses in both Ohio and Michigan, and an Ohio broker’s license. She worked for the City of Toledo as a specialist in real estate sales and acquisitions, and in purchasing easements for utility lines, creek redevelopment, and rehab sales and purchases. She was proud of her children, and deeply loved every grandchild and great-grandchild. Mary Kathleen is preceded in death by her parents and brother, Patrick Duane Poiry. She is survived by her children Diana Orlemann (Jim), Gary Benore (Terri Kovach), Patti Herr (Ronald), Marilee Benore, Cindi Dolias (George), and Karen Ramirez (Mark); by her grandchildren Kelley Hand (Greg), Amy Metzger (Jim), Valerie Roberts (Ben), Nick Benore (Natalie Sun), Philip Orlemann, Joshua Herr, Brett Herr (Amanda), Mitch Ramirez (Monique Moneira), Alexander Dolias, Kyle Parsons, Matt Ramirez, Allison Greiner (Shawn), Shannon Parsons, and Mike Ramirez; and by her great grandchildren Sophie Hand, Nicolas Herr, Brayden Greiner, Evelyn Herr and Lucas Roberts. Friends may visit the family on Monday July 25 from 3:00-9:00 PM at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. (west of Corey Rd) with a Rosary at 7:30 PM. Funeral services will begin on Tuesday, July 26 with prayers at the funeral home at 9:00 AM, followed by a funeral Mass and eulogy at 10:00 AM at Holy Trinity Catholic Church 2649 U.S. Highway 20 Swanton, OH 43558. A luncheon will be held immediately following the funeral service. The burial will be at Clay Twp., Cemetery S. Opfer Lentz Rd (south of St. Rt. 163) at 2:30 PM.