Obituary of Florence Rose Benich

Florence Rose Amerault Benich

Florence “Flo” was born March 16, 1928 in East Boston, MA
Departed this life in Cottonwood, AZ August 11, 2022

Flo was born to William Henry and Ida Pauline Amerault. She grew up as a devout Catholic in a traditional New England family where she loved to sing and dance. After high school she began a career at the phone company. She married “Rocky” Robert Frank Carbonneau on September 23, 1950. They were blessed with 4 children: Gregory (Gayle), Gary (Robin), Janet (Greg) and Robert (Kathy).

In 1962, the family moved from Massachusetts to Tempe, then settled in Holbrook, AZ for Rocky’s work and Flo again worked at the phone company. In August 1967 Flo and Rocky divorced. Flo took Janet and Robert to Flagstaff and then to Prescott. On August 18, 1972 she and her son Robert, were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Florence married Kenneth Mayo Benich, December 28, 1973. That union brought her two grown step-children: Dixie (Cleon) and Jim (Phillis). Adding to the family, Ken and Flo worked together as foster parents, and in 1980 they adopted their son, Jesse.

After their marriage, Ken and Flo lived in Lakeside, CA then Prescott, and then Tonopah, AZ. Ken and Flo then both worked for Arizona Public Service until retirement, then they moved to Henderson, NV, where both were involved in volunteer work including serving as Ordinance Workers in the Las Vegas, NV temple. They moved to Cornville in 1997 and Flo lived her final years in Cottonwood, AZ. Since first moving west from Massachusetts, Florence appreciated the beauty of the desert, but she sought opportunities to walk on a beach whenever she could.

She is survived by her brother, Alan; 5 children; 2 step-children; 24 grandchildren and over 50 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11:00am Saturday August 20th, 2022 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meeting house located at 1430 N. Recker Rd Mesa, AZ 85205.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to:
Hospice Care, 7000 State Route AZ-179 Suite D100 Sedona, AZ 86351 928-284-0180