Sister Maryann Benoit, age 94, a Sister of Providence for 72 years, died May 9, 2017, at Swedish First Hill Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Vigil Service: Sunday, May 14, 2017, at 7:00 p.m., and Funeral Mass: Monday, May 15, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., both at St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA. Burial followed at Calvary Cemetery, Seattle, WA, after Mass and reception. Bonney Watson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Anna Mary (Maryann) Benoit was born April 27, 1923, to Frederick and Anna Kathryn (Heiser) Benoit, in Yakima, Washington. She was the third youngest of 12 children. Maryann entered the Sisters of Providence in July 1940 at Mount St. Vincent, Seattle, WA, and in January 1941 she became a novice. In July of 1942 she professed first vows and received the name Sister Valerie, and in July 1945 she professed final vows.
Sister Maryann graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Yakima, WA in 1940, and then entered the novitiate in Seattle, WA. In 1953 she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Great Falls, Montana, and in 1963 she received her Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. Sr. Maryann had numerous educational opportunities over the years which included attending the University of San Francisco, CA, Gonzaga University and the University of Washington. She studied Spanish at Centro Intercultural de Documentacion in Cuernavaca, Mexico. In 1984 and 1986 she taught an intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) program for the International Educational System (IES) in Tokyo, Japan, then subsequently served as advisor to Japanese college students. Also, during her time in Japan, Sister Maryann received the IES Distinguished Educator Award. She also received teaching certificates in elementary and secondary education from the states of Washington and Montana.
Sr. Maryann’s ministry of 50 years was teaching in numerous institutions from 1942-92. In Washington: Tacoma – Sacred Heart School; Walla Walla – St. Patrick Grade School and St. Patrick Catholic High School; Seattle –St. Catherine School; Vancouver – Providence Academy; Olympia – St. Michael School; Yakima – St. Joseph Academy; in California: Burbank – Providence High School; and in Montana: Missoula – Sacred Heart Academy; Great Falls – Central Catholic High School and the University of Great Falls.
From 1973-92 Sister Maryann was a professor teaching English at the University of Great Falls. In February 2000 she received the University of Great Falls Alumni Association Award for her outstanding leadership, professional achievements and scholarly work. In 1993 she retired from teaching and began volunteer work in Great Falls as a professional mentor for writers, editing books and articles for publication and as a tutor advocating for economically challenged individuals.
Some of Sister Maryann’s hobbies were traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles, corresponding with many friends and family, and exploring modern technology. In February 2015, Maryann moved from Great Falls to St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, where she enjoyed and cherished spending time with family, friends and her sisters in community.
Sr. Maryann is preceded in death by her parents, six brothers and three sisters. She is survived by her two brothers, James Benoit and Larry Benoit (Waldene) from Yakima, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016. To view Sr. Maryann’s obituary and picture and to sign her memory book, please visit the Web site for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at bonneywatson.com
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