Bennett, Frances Viola (Hardesty), 97, passed peacefully September 7, 2016 , after a rich and gratifying life.
Frances was born August 29, 1919 in Brandenburg, KY, the daughter of Jake and Sarah Viola (Knott) Hardesty. It was in Brandenburg that she met and married James William Bennett. Together, they had four children, and celebrated 48 years of marriage, until his death in 1986.
In 1949, Frances and “Jimmy” settled in Pleasure Ridge Park where they raised their children. Frances led an energetic life that included gardening, quilting, traveling, and donating thousands of hours to numerous civic, community, and church organizations.
Family was the most important part of Frances’ life. She was a devoted wife and mother, she always greeted family and friends with an open door and warm welcome. She is survived by two sons, and two daughters, Retired Major Jacob Michael Bennett (Marsha Jean Logan), of Prattville, AL; Dr. Francis Anthony Bennett (Linda Ruth Rapp), of Rochester, NY; James Harriett Bennett Alvey Bidwell, of Pleasant Hill, CA, and Rebecca Ann Bennett Seidl (Gerald Lee “Jerry”), of Louisville, KY. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Matthew and Joan Bennett, Charles, Timothy, and Joseph Alvey, Denise (Huling) Winters, Deborah (Huling) Adams; ten great grandchildren, step grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Frances also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, and friends who will cherish her memory.
Frances was a Charter Member of the Pleasure Ridge Park Woman’s Club, and served as president for 12 nonconsecutive years. She was also a Charter Member of the Past President’s Leadership Club. She was awarded the state of Kentucky’s GFWC/KFWC Jennie Award, the highest award bestowed by the General Federation of Woman’s Club, for her outstanding community performances. Frances was involved in lobbying to build the Southwest Jefferson County Courthouse, and the Southwest Hospital. She lobbied for the preservation and creation of the Riverside Farnsley-Moremen Landing where she donated hundreds of hours. She organized the first “Junior Miss” Contest which provided college scholarships. She worked to obtain the first area YMCA, Metro Arts Center, and the Southwest Library. She helped to implement the “Cancer Closet” program. She worked diligently on renaming the Southwest Jefferson Floodwall to the Native American Indian Levee (NAIL) to reflect the Indian heritage of the area. Frances actively volunteered for the Friends of the Library, American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Easter Seals, Spirit of Dixie Senior Citizen Retirement Club, Kentucky Society to Prevent Blindness, and was on the board of Independent Living for the Blind. She was honored as a “KENTUCKY COLONEL” for her exceptional community service.
Frances, a longtime member of St. Paul Catholic Church , served as president of the Church’s Altar Society, and volunteered in the school cafeteria.
In 2015, she was admitted to the National Society of the “Daughters of the American Revolution”.
Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of her life on Wednesday at 10:00AM at St. Paul Catholic Church in Pleasure Ridge Park. Burial is in St. George Cemetery in Brandenburg, KY. Visitation is Tuesday 2:00-8:00PM at Owen Funeral Home 5317 Dixie Hwy.
In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Frances’ name to WHAS Crusade for Children, 520 W. Chestnut St, Louisville, KY 40202. www.whascrusade.org, or Hosparus, PO Box 35425, Louisville, KY 40232-9892 www.hosparus.org.
The family would like to extend a very special THANK YOU to all the wonderful people on her Hosparus team, especially her Nurse, Kathy, and her Nursing Assistant, Jamie. We also want to thank her beautician, Pat, and manicurist, Cathy. THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts.