Leona Rogers Bennett

When one's journey through this life lasts 98 years, it is certain that the pendulum of experience and emotion will swing a wide arc. Leona Bennett -our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother - experienced great joy in her long and blessed life, and she also felt the pain and loss so certain to come to someone who lives so many years. Some women never experience the joy of being called "Mom" on Mother's Day. Leona was blessed with eighty Mother's Days. Imagine watching your son celebrate his 80th birthday. What a blessing. Some never see their own children become parents. Leona watched her grandchildren become grandparents. Some families look on with sadness as their loved ones advance in age, and their memories fade away. Leona was as sharp on her 98th birthday as she was on her 18th. Sadly, Leona said goodbye to her husband, Al Bennett, and three of her four children. Her sadness was visible to and understood by everyone, but when a child crawled up on her lap, she lit up, and she laughed and hugged him or her and the world -for a moment, anyway- made sense once again. We already miss her terribly, but we know that she gave us all she had to give. We thought she would see a century, but ours is a family that has seen loved ones leave this world far too early. Leona is survived by her daughter: Barbara Bennett of Nichols; daughters-in-law: Patricia Bennett of Smithboro; Sandra Bennett of Nichols; sisters and a brother-in-law: Florence Schwab of Salt Lake City, Utah; Avis Gorsline of Berkshire; Juanita and Harold Allis; sister-in-law: Lucinda Rogers of Sayre, Pa; brother-in-law Art Fitzgerald of Homer, NY; twelve grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren; seven great great grandchildren; several special nieces, nephews and their families also survive. Leona was predeceased by her husband Al Bennett; sons Richard "Dick" Bennett; Lester "Tuffy" Bennett; her daughter Connie Lawrence; daughter-in-law: Eileen Bennett; sisters Mary Fitzerald, Roberta Platt and Irene Stout; brothers Lester Rogers and Barney Marsh. A time of remembering the special gift Leona was to all of us will be held on Sunday, August 31st at 6 pm at the Sutfin Funeral Chapel, 273 South Main St., Nichols with Pastor Brown Naik, officiating. Interment will follow in the Nichols Cemetery. A period of visitation and sharing memories will be held on Sunday from 3 pm until the time of the service. Leona will be honored with a Rebekah services at 5:45 pm. Memories and condolences for Leona's family may be shared by visiting our website at www.sutfinfuneralchapel.com Those who wish may kindly consider a memorial contribution to Lourdes Hospice, 169 Riverside Drive, Binghamton, NY 13905 in loving memory of Leona Rogers Bennett.