Obituary: Joan (Jody) Benken, 89, former longtime Madison resident

Obituary courtesy of Guilford Funeral Home:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:3)

Cromwell-Beloved mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend Joan (Jody) Benken died peacefully at home on July 3, 2022.

Jody was born on November 9, 1932, to Eleanore (Andres) Guelzow and Paul Guelzow in Peoria, IL and was raised in Ironton, MO. She graduated from high school in 1950 and went on to study home economics at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso IN. She graduated in 1954.

On August 4, 1956, Jody married Rev. F. Richard Benken and moved to New Britain CT where Richard pastored St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, and they had their first child. In 1957, Richard accepted a call to the Lutheran Church of Madison and the family moved to Madison, CT. Jody was passionate about family and was a devoted wife and mother. She also loved to read and, in between grocery store runs and loads of laundry, she found time to “work” at The Book Swap in Guilford. Not only did this provide respite from four kids and a dog, but she got paid in paperbacks. After the kids were grown, Jody worked in market research with Karen Associates, though later in life she was known to hang up on “those annoying telemarketers”. Once the grandchildren came, she quickly turned her attention back to family. In 2013, the retired couple moved to Covenant Living of Cromwell.

Jody is survived by her sister Faith Collins; her children Betsy (Vern) Lunt, Peter Benken, Kris Smith, and Andy (Diana) Benken; her grandchildren Daniel (Nicole), Katie (Michael), Stephanie, Madeline, Ben (Maryanne), Adam, Erin, and Christopher; her great-grandchildren Lukas, Emma, Anna, Emily and Charlotte; and many friends and loved ones.

Jody was a faithful servant who always considered others more important than herself. She was generous regardless of what she had to sacrifice of herself. She was eternally optimistic and encouraged others even in the worst of circumstances. She listened. She prayed. She loved. “Can I get you something to eat?”

A memorial service will be held at The Lutheran Church of Madison, 9 Britton Lane, Madison, CT on Friday, July 15 at 11:00. A reception will follow the service. The family will hold a private Rite of Christian Burial at West Cemetery in Madison.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Orphan Grain Train, 601 W. Phillip Ave, PO Box 1466, Norfolk, NE 68702 (ogt.org) or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave. New York, NY 10065 (mskcc.org) or a charity of your choice.

The family wishes to thank all who cared for Jody, especially Grace, Cara, Kathy, Claudette and the many other angels from CLOC, Home Instead, and Middlesex Health Home Care & Hospice.