Lillian J. Benekos, 86, of 1428 Otter Street, died Monday, August 4, 2014 at St. Vincent Medical Center, Erie.
A daughter of Telemachos and Kleanthi Lambiris Hatzis she was born in Norwich, CT on December 31, 1927. She was a graduate of Hatboro High School, Hatboro, PA.
She began her working career at the Exchange Bank as a teller in Franklin in charge of the Christmas club accounts. She and her husband owned and operated the Cunningham Restaurant in Oil City. After the closing of the restaurant in 1975 she worked as a cashier at Weston’s, Jamesway and Buyer’s Fair until her retirement in 1987.
Mrs. Benekos was a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Farrell and a member of the Philoptohos Society. She also had belonged to the Franklin Women’s Club and the Franklin Eagle’s Auxiliary. She was trained as a hospice volunteer with VNA and volunteered with the RSVP Toymakers. Her kindness touched the lives of many and brought love and hope to all she met.
She cherished the time spent with her family, corresponding with friends, baking, crocheting and reading.
On March 7, 1948 she married John Peter Benekos who died on August 19, 2002.
Surviving are three sons Pete Benekos and his wife Pat of Erie. Tom Benekos and his wife Emily of Wooster, OH and Jim Benekos and his wife Sue of Marshallville, OH; 6 grandchildren, Nick, Ben, Alex and his wife Natalie, Jon and his wife Tina, Nikki and her husband Matt, and Zach; 3 great-grandchildren Jonas, Stryder and Kleanthi. Also surviving are two sisters-in-law Magda Hatzis of Dresher and Athena Dalber of Manchester, NH and several nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed by her family; her death leaves a void that will never be filled.
In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her brother Peter T. Hatzis.
Friends will be received in the Huff Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 312 W. Park St., Franklin from 5-8 p.m. Thursday. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home at 11 a.m. Friday with Father Spiro Kehayes of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church and Lillian’s nephew Father Steve Dalber of St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, Charlotte NC officiating.
Interment will follow in the Franklin Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1007 Washington St., Farrell, PA 16121 or to a charity on one’s choice.
To send condolences online, visit www.huffchapel.com.
