Virginia Marie Bennett

Virginia Marie Bennett passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of July 2, 2010. Marie was born to Clifford Samuel Woodall and Rura Vivian Jones on September 26, 1938 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was married to Robert Owen Bennett in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on November 3, 1954.
Marie worked as a PBX dispatcher and then a 911 operator for many years. She loved to serve her community and the people around her. She later worked at St. Mark's Senior Center until she retired in 2007.
Marie had many hobbies throughout the years, some of which included making award winning porcelain dolls and beautiful clothing for them. She loved to go to Disneyland with her family and friends and also collected elephants and turtles. She was involved in Daughters of Utah Pioneers and held many callings in the LDS church.
She is survived by her children, Penny (Steve) Talbot, Arlene (Richard) Winkelman, Virginia Martin, and James (Erin) Bennett, 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Also survived by brother Clifford (Merna) Woodall, sisters Vera Paget, and LaRue (Dee) Jeffs. Preceded in death by her parents, ex-husband Robert Bennett, daughter Diane Bennett, and son Robert Allen Bennett.
Marie was involved in many organizations over the years. She held many various positions in the LDS church and taught many primary children when her children were young. She was also proud to be a member of The Daughters of Utah Pioneers and she always cherished the many friendships she made there. Marie also loved creating beautiful award winning porcelain dolls. She even made all of their amazing clothing. She made each of her children and grandchildren our own special doll, which really meant a lot to each one of us. She loved going to doll club and made many long lasting friendships there as well. She loved elephants and enjoyed collecting them. Today many of her children and grandchildren have elephant collections as well.
Marie loved her children and grandchildren so much. She always went out of her way and made a huge effort to make each one feel special. We all knew when our birthday came around we would get a "birthday date" with her. We would go to lunch together and then shopping for a special gift! She was always available to babysit and she raised two of her granddaughters for many years. She loved Disneyland and when she could she tried to give each of her grandchildren the trip of their lives by taking them to meet Mickey and friends.
At the end of her career she really enjoyed working at St. Mark's Senior Center. When you were out with Marie you couldn't go anywhere without someone saying hi to her. She was loved dearly and will be missed by so many Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and wonderful friends! Especially her Sister LaRue Jeffs and her best friend Deb Wolthuis!
This past year she spent many hours at The Huntsman Cancer Institute and became very close with a lot of the staff. Thank you to all of you for making her last months pleasant, and dare I say fun. Although, she didn't really want to be there, somehow every week she looked forward to seeing all of you. Also thank you to Rocky Mountain Hospice for making her last days more comfortable for her.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. at the Murray Dell Ward Chapel, 6300 South 300 East. A viewing will be held prior, from 10:00 to 11:30. Interment Elysian Burial Gardens.
A special thanks to Huntsman Cancer Institute and Rocky Mountain Hospice for their wonderful care.