Carol Ann Benz completed her 78 year earthly faith journey March 4th, 2017. She was born June 30th 1938 in Kansas City, Kansas. Carol was a lifelong resident of Bonner Springs, Kansas and member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. She attended Bonner Springs and Saint Ann’s grade schools. Carol graduated from Bonner Springs High School in 1956. In high school she was involved in the school play, cheerleading, pep club, and band. During the summers she worked as a Candy Striper at Providence Medical Center and her parent’s grocery store in Edgerton, Kansas.
After high school she was an office clerk at Safeway Cereal Plant in Bonner Springs for more than 20 years before starting a business (Eazy World) as an interior decorator. When that business closed she hosted a bed and breakfast (Candlelight Cottage) in her home for out of town guests and business travelers.
Carol’s interests included traveling with family and friends, dancing, assisting the church altar society, playing bunko, shopping, Hallmark movies, and providing assistance to those who needed a helping hand. However nothing compared to the abundant unconditional love and jubilant times she shared with friends and family, especially her grandchildren who created multiple nicknames: “nana”, “nene”, and “nana banana”. Her happiest moments were when she spent time with her grandchildren and took care of her great grandchildren.
Carol will be remembered for her steadfast faith in God, being there for friends and family in times of need, a forgiving heart, the friendship bonds of complete trust, resiliency to life’s challenges, self-determination, home cooking (macaroni & cheese, chocolate sheet cake, praline french toast, walnut brownies, to name a few), her bright smile, sense of humor, silly remarks that added new words to the English language and the unique carefree ability to laugh at herself.
She was preceded in death by her parents Leo and Helen Reynolds, and sister Judith Smith. She is survived by son Scott Hoch (Rita) and daughter Robin Russell, five grandchildren Ian Schaben (Christine), Blake Russell (Mary Beth), Brandon Hoch, Drew Russell (Gabby), Brenna Hoch, five great grandchildren Makinley Schaben, Berkley Schaben, Delyla Russell, Wylie Russell, Whitaker Russell and a sixth great grandchild that Carol is watching over now until arrival later this year.
Visitation will be at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church Shawnee, Kansas Thursday, March 9th, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., with a rosary at 7:30 p.m. The funeral mass at the church will be Friday, March 10th, at 10:00 a.m., followed by burial at the Bonner Springs Cemetery. Donations may be made to the church.
She is and will be truly missed forever by all who knew and loved her. “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7