Obituary for Beverly J "Bev" Bennotti
In the quiet stillness of the early morning hours of Saturday, February 26th, 2022, Beverly Jenkins Sowell Bennotti entered her eternal life at the age of 77, while resting comfortably at home with her family. Her day before was filled with long awaited moments with close friends, “the girls”, and significant shenanigans with her children and grandchildren. Beverly’s final few days here on earth were like so many of her days that came before, filled with smiles, songs, and love – a Life well Lived.
Beverly was born on August 2, 1944, just outside of Pageland, South Carolina to Adele Jenkins Sowell and Henry Berry Sowell Jr. (HB). She graduated from Pageland High School in 1962 after being active in church youth groups, cheerleading, representing Pageland at various festivals, participating in glee club and the girls’ basketball team. Beverly attended the University of South Carolina until she was swept off her feet by and married Louis Peter Bennotti in June of 1963. After the wedding, Peter and Beverly moved north to his home in Massachusetts, where she created a beautiful home that she filled with kindness, joy, inclusiveness for all and lots of love. The majority of their years together were spent in Medfield, where they raised their two children. Her spirit is carried on by her son, Jeffrey Peter Bennotti, and his wife Nancy Chipman Bennotti and by her daughter, Andria Lynne Bennotti Miller, and her husband Timothy David Miller. Friends of both of Beverly’s children express how welcome they always felt at the Bennotti’s home. Andria’s friends recall years of piling into the back of the Wagoneer (how many Bluebirds did we fit?) for travel soccer games and Jeff’s friends recall adventurous Boy Scout meetings with Beverly as their den leader. Somehow, she managed to miss nothing and make everyone feel included. Her daughter-in-law’s family included her as their own over the years, making sure she was an integral part of holiday celebrations, birthdays, and graduations. Beverly held a special place in her heart for all of them, especially her “uber-angel”.
Beverly loved becoming a grandmother and it brought her happiness to be an active part of her grandchildren’s daily lives. She treasured being “Meema” to 5 grandchildren, and her spirit will continue on through Nick Bennotti, Kaelin Riley Miller and her fiancé Christopher Francis O’Mara, Christopher Henry Bennotti, Julianne Bennotti, and Izabella Shae Miller (Elle).
Although her adored older brother Henry Berry Sowell III preceded her in death just over a year ago, Beverly will be sorely missed by her sister-in-law (“sister-in-love”), Mary Frances Bath Sowell of Andrews, South Carolina and her niece, Janet Sowell Rimmer and Janet’s husband, Dugger Reed Rimmer, also of Andrews. Beverly loved spending time whenever she could with her South Carolina family, which included Janet’s children (Lauren) Ashleigh Love, her husband Derrick (and their 4 sons), (Dugger) Reed Rimmer, his wife Haleigh (and their 2 sons), and Blakely Addison Rimmer. Beverly’s southern roots were strong, and she kept in touch with so many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, all of whom never forgot her and who will never be forgotten. Beverly was overjoyed to be able to spend precious time with her lifelong friend Margaret Kohler Combs (“George”) in the days and hours before her passing.
Beverly was happiest when her home was full of friends, family, and especially when it was full of her 5 grandchildren all at once. Hosting her family and friends was one of Beverly’s favorite things to do. She also loved being a passionately active member of her community from the beginning. She was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Medfield, where she sang in the choir, was a deacon, and participated in innumerable other committees and events, such as the annual Church Fair and the Women’s Society. Beverly watched both of her children get baptized there and her daughter get married there. She also volunteered at both the Medfield and Norfolk Voting Polls for each election and the Medfield Food Cupboard for over a decade, only stopping during the pandemic. Beverly also enjoyed knitting scarves and would donate the ones she did not give as gifts to the homeless.
After starting with the Medfield Public Schools as a Medfield High School Secretary, she became executive assistant to the Medfield Schools Superintendent Office from 1983 to 2010. During this time, she worked with 4 superintendents - Robert Cresto, Tom Reis, Dr Chris Martes, and Bob Maguire. These years of her career were her fondest because of the amazing people she worked with, formed friendships with, and cherished well beyond her retirement. Prior to these positions, she also worked at Norfolk County Agricultural School, Lords, and Bubbling Brook restaurant.
After her husband’s passing in 2013, Beverly moved to Norfolk. This huge change was also part of an incredible transition. The Norfolk community welcomed her with open arms of genuine kindness and it quickly became home to her, and for that her family is beyond grateful. Her cul de sac became her extended family and provided hope during a pandemic. About this same time, Beverly made the decision to transition to the United Church of Walpole, as its inclusive and accepting beliefs were more in line with her own. Although this was a challenging change, Beverly faced it with the grace and determination.
Some of Beverly’s favorite hobbies beyond hostessing included gardening, cooking for her family, and traveling. During her marriage, she traveled to Portugal, Bermuda, Ireland, Scotland, and England with her husband, Peter. She also went on a mission trip to Brazil and in 2007, she took a cruise to the Bahamas with both her children, their spouses, and all 5 grandchildren. Over the last few years, she traveled with friends to Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and Italy. Beverly loved to share the photos of her travels and return with “circes” for every grandchild, and was so grateful for these opportunities to travel.
Beverly was always ready with a stash of greeting cards to send to all of those she loved for any and all occasions. Even in her final weeks, she was adamant about having her granddaughter “raid” her card stash so that her daughter-in-law had a proper birthday card. Beverly was always thinking about how others felt. She wanted everyone to feel loved, always. Her oldest granddaughter recounts that she could always count on Meema being awake for a quick text even after 11pm because Beverly never missed the local news. She loved decorating for the holidays and sharing her beautiful preparations with others. She loved when everyone called her ‘Meema,’ even if they were not one of her grandkids. While many people of her age may struggle to keep up with the technology of this time, Beverly enjoyed emailing, texting, Facetiming, creating her own Bitmoji, and playing with Snapchat filters.
Beverly’s departure from this world will leave chasms in so many lives, well beyond her close family and friends. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. The kindness she demonstrated in each moment of her life will continue to extend exponentially across people, communities, and even continents. On Thursday, March 3rd, 2022, there will be Visiting Hours with Beverly’s family from 4pm to 7pm at Roberts Mitchell Caruso Funeral Home, 15 Miller Street, Medfield Massachusetts. Her funeral service will be held on Friday, March 4th, 2022 at 11:00am at the United Church in Walpole, 30 Common Street, Walpole, Massachusetts.
In lieu of flowers, please give graciously to the following organizations, which were close to Beverly’s heart - The Medfield Food Cupboard, Pulmonary Fibrosis Organization, and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. See the links below:
https://www.medfieldfoodcupboard.com/donation-page
https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/tribute-program
https://www.dana-farber.org/how-you-can-help/ways-to-give/make-a-memorial-or-tribute-gift/
Beverly was born on August 2, 1944, just outside of Pageland, South Carolina to Adele Jenkins Sowell and Henry Berry Sowell Jr. (HB). She graduated from Pageland High School in 1962 after being active in church youth groups, cheerleading, representing Pageland at various festivals, participating in glee club and the girls’ basketball team. Beverly attended the University of South Carolina until she was swept off her feet by and married Louis Peter Bennotti in June of 1963. After the wedding, Peter and Beverly moved north to his home in Massachusetts, where she created a beautiful home that she filled with kindness, joy, inclusiveness for all and lots of love. The majority of their years together were spent in Medfield, where they raised their two children. Her spirit is carried on by her son, Jeffrey Peter Bennotti, and his wife Nancy Chipman Bennotti and by her daughter, Andria Lynne Bennotti Miller, and her husband Timothy David Miller. Friends of both of Beverly’s children express how welcome they always felt at the Bennotti’s home. Andria’s friends recall years of piling into the back of the Wagoneer (how many Bluebirds did we fit?) for travel soccer games and Jeff’s friends recall adventurous Boy Scout meetings with Beverly as their den leader. Somehow, she managed to miss nothing and make everyone feel included. Her daughter-in-law’s family included her as their own over the years, making sure she was an integral part of holiday celebrations, birthdays, and graduations. Beverly held a special place in her heart for all of them, especially her “uber-angel”.
Beverly loved becoming a grandmother and it brought her happiness to be an active part of her grandchildren’s daily lives. She treasured being “Meema” to 5 grandchildren, and her spirit will continue on through Nick Bennotti, Kaelin Riley Miller and her fiancé Christopher Francis O’Mara, Christopher Henry Bennotti, Julianne Bennotti, and Izabella Shae Miller (Elle).
Although her adored older brother Henry Berry Sowell III preceded her in death just over a year ago, Beverly will be sorely missed by her sister-in-law (“sister-in-love”), Mary Frances Bath Sowell of Andrews, South Carolina and her niece, Janet Sowell Rimmer and Janet’s husband, Dugger Reed Rimmer, also of Andrews. Beverly loved spending time whenever she could with her South Carolina family, which included Janet’s children (Lauren) Ashleigh Love, her husband Derrick (and their 4 sons), (Dugger) Reed Rimmer, his wife Haleigh (and their 2 sons), and Blakely Addison Rimmer. Beverly’s southern roots were strong, and she kept in touch with so many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, all of whom never forgot her and who will never be forgotten. Beverly was overjoyed to be able to spend precious time with her lifelong friend Margaret Kohler Combs (“George”) in the days and hours before her passing.
Beverly was happiest when her home was full of friends, family, and especially when it was full of her 5 grandchildren all at once. Hosting her family and friends was one of Beverly’s favorite things to do. She also loved being a passionately active member of her community from the beginning. She was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Medfield, where she sang in the choir, was a deacon, and participated in innumerable other committees and events, such as the annual Church Fair and the Women’s Society. Beverly watched both of her children get baptized there and her daughter get married there. She also volunteered at both the Medfield and Norfolk Voting Polls for each election and the Medfield Food Cupboard for over a decade, only stopping during the pandemic. Beverly also enjoyed knitting scarves and would donate the ones she did not give as gifts to the homeless.
After starting with the Medfield Public Schools as a Medfield High School Secretary, she became executive assistant to the Medfield Schools Superintendent Office from 1983 to 2010. During this time, she worked with 4 superintendents - Robert Cresto, Tom Reis, Dr Chris Martes, and Bob Maguire. These years of her career were her fondest because of the amazing people she worked with, formed friendships with, and cherished well beyond her retirement. Prior to these positions, she also worked at Norfolk County Agricultural School, Lords, and Bubbling Brook restaurant.
After her husband’s passing in 2013, Beverly moved to Norfolk. This huge change was also part of an incredible transition. The Norfolk community welcomed her with open arms of genuine kindness and it quickly became home to her, and for that her family is beyond grateful. Her cul de sac became her extended family and provided hope during a pandemic. About this same time, Beverly made the decision to transition to the United Church of Walpole, as its inclusive and accepting beliefs were more in line with her own. Although this was a challenging change, Beverly faced it with the grace and determination.
Some of Beverly’s favorite hobbies beyond hostessing included gardening, cooking for her family, and traveling. During her marriage, she traveled to Portugal, Bermuda, Ireland, Scotland, and England with her husband, Peter. She also went on a mission trip to Brazil and in 2007, she took a cruise to the Bahamas with both her children, their spouses, and all 5 grandchildren. Over the last few years, she traveled with friends to Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and Italy. Beverly loved to share the photos of her travels and return with “circes” for every grandchild, and was so grateful for these opportunities to travel.
Beverly was always ready with a stash of greeting cards to send to all of those she loved for any and all occasions. Even in her final weeks, she was adamant about having her granddaughter “raid” her card stash so that her daughter-in-law had a proper birthday card. Beverly was always thinking about how others felt. She wanted everyone to feel loved, always. Her oldest granddaughter recounts that she could always count on Meema being awake for a quick text even after 11pm because Beverly never missed the local news. She loved decorating for the holidays and sharing her beautiful preparations with others. She loved when everyone called her ‘Meema,’ even if they were not one of her grandkids. While many people of her age may struggle to keep up with the technology of this time, Beverly enjoyed emailing, texting, Facetiming, creating her own Bitmoji, and playing with Snapchat filters.
Beverly’s departure from this world will leave chasms in so many lives, well beyond her close family and friends. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. The kindness she demonstrated in each moment of her life will continue to extend exponentially across people, communities, and even continents. On Thursday, March 3rd, 2022, there will be Visiting Hours with Beverly’s family from 4pm to 7pm at Roberts Mitchell Caruso Funeral Home, 15 Miller Street, Medfield Massachusetts. Her funeral service will be held on Friday, March 4th, 2022 at 11:00am at the United Church in Walpole, 30 Common Street, Walpole, Massachusetts.
In lieu of flowers, please give graciously to the following organizations, which were close to Beverly’s heart - The Medfield Food Cupboard, Pulmonary Fibrosis Organization, and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. See the links below:
https://www.medfieldfoodcupboard.com/donation-page
https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/tribute-program
https://www.dana-farber.org/how-you-can-help/ways-to-give/make-a-memorial-or-tribute-gift/