Obituary: Deborah "Deb" Benedict, Of Danbury: Schoolteacher

Information and Photo Hull Funeral Home

DANBURY, CT — On June 19, 2022, Deborah "Deb" Benedict passed away peacefully after complications stemming from surgery on March 8. With her at her bedside, holding her hand was Heather Smith; the person who helped her through the last several months.

Deb was born and raised in Danbury. She comes from a long line of first colony settlers and in fact she is a direct descendant of Oceanus Hopkins, the only baby to be born on the Mayflower. Almost 100 years later Steven Hopkins, another one of Deb’s ancestors, signed the Declaration of Independence representing Rhode Island on July 2nd 1776.

Deb graduated from Danbury Public High School in 1961 and continued her education at Danbury Teachers College, known today as Western Connecticut State University. Upon graduating with her degree in teaching, Deb would spend the next 35 years dedicating her life as a fourth grade teacher at Meeting House Hill School in the New Fairfield Public School system. Upon retiring; Deb enjoyed going out to lunch and dinner with her friends on a weekly basis or taking trips to Cape Cod to see her sister, and in her downtime she loved nothing more than reading a good book. Nothing quite felt as good to her than spending time with her godchildren Nicholas and Samantha.

Deb is finally reunited with her parents Frances and Francis (Beers) Benedict and her beloved sister Lynn Sanuk in eternal rest.

In addition to leaving behind the true keys to her heart, Nicholas Russell, Samantha Smith (Joseph), Heather Smith (Paul), and her beloved fur baby, Chance; she also leaves behind a number of close friends and loved ones who will carry her love, devotion and kindness in their hearts forever.

In the last weeks, Deb made sure that her message of love, peace and acceptance was ever present. She spent hours indulging in Heather’s desire to honor her every wish in life and after.
Deb had requested that any donations in her memory can be made to Wells Valley Cat Rescue in New Milford.

A memorial gathering will take place at the Hull Funeral Home, 60 Division ST., Danbury Friday, July 1, 2022 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, followed by a short service 8:00 at the Funeral Home.