…U.S.O entertainer during WWII; 93
TEWKSBURY - Mrs. Dorothy M. (Doliber) Benoit, age 93, a resident of Tewksbury for the past seven decades, died peacefully at her home, in the care of her family and hospice, on Sunday morning, July 1st. She was the beloved wife of James “Howie” Benoit who died in 1997.
She was born in Lowell, a daughter of the late Frederick and Anna (LaDuke) Doliber, raised in Lowell and educated in Lowell Schools. She had lived in Tewksbury since her marriage to Howie.
During WWII, she and her twin sister Gladys travelled across Massachusetts with the U.S.O., as entertainers to the Troops. In addition to raising her children, she began her career at McGowan Educator Biscuit Company in Lowell and retired from medical equipment manufacturing with MicroWave Associates company in Burlington. She was a parishioner of St. William’s Church in Tewksbury.
Dorothy was inseparable from her late twin sister Gladys and her husband John “Jinx” Benoit, and spent a lifetime doing “everything” together, from family vacations to trips to the store.
She leaves a daughter, Theresa Bateman of NH; a son-in-law, Donald Parent of N.C., who was the husband of her late daughter, Mayre who died last January; two grandsons, Michael Bateman and his wife Mary of CO, and James Bateman and his wife Jamie of CO; two granddaughters, Dawn Marie Giodano and her husband Richard of Nashua, NH, and Mandy Fulk and her husband Thomas of TX; ten great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; her devoted care-giver for the past 3 years, Leslie Abrahim; and many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours Monday morning, July 9, from 10:00 until 11:30 followed by a Funeral Service at 11:30 in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, phone (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. Burial will follow at Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack St., Bldg. 9, Lawrence, MA 01843 will be appreciated. visit tewksburyfuneralhome.com