Cay Benac's Obituary
Catherine Marie Benac passed peacefully on October 2, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Home in Indianola Iowa surrounded by her loved ones.
Cay is survived by a nephew Barry Benac of Florida, two great nieces, Shelly (Gary) Benac of Virginia and Colleen (Adam) Benac of Florida, a great nephew, Jeff (DeDe) Benac of Virginia, and cousins, Angie Budeslich of Centerville Iowa and John Budeslich of Urbandale, Iowa. Her extended family, Judy (Richard) Williams of Runnells, Iowa, Lisa (Tim) and Lexi Retz of Runnells, Kim (Mike) Turnbaugh of Altoona, Iowa, and Jenny Cummins (Tony Bellegante) of Des Moines, Iowa.
Cay was born in Centerville, Iowa on Novemeber 26, 1918 to Vinko and Anna Benac. She grew up in Centerville where she was a guard on the All State Basketball tournament team and is recorded in the Centerville High School Hall of Fame. Cay attended the girl's state basketball tournament in Des Moines annually.
After High School Graduation, Cay graduated from St. Francis Hospital in Macomb, Illinois in 1942 as a registered nurse. During WWll she joined the Navy as an ensign and completed her tour of duty 5 A years later as a Lieutenant Commander. Cay then became a nurse for the FBI in Washington, DC where she worked for 9 years before returning to Centerville to take care of family matters. Cay went back to work at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Centerville as a supervisor of surgery for 30 years before retirement.
After retirement, Cay continued her leadership by demonstrating health awareness and volunteering in the auxiliary health services. She participated in Diabetes, Colorectal and Cholesterol screenings, Hospital week activities, and the SJMH Health Fairs. Cay co-chaired the Pediatric Orientation Program where first graders toured and became acquainted with the hospital environment. She worked in the hostess service and chaired the daily cart program which delivered reading material and necessities to every hospital room. Each month, Cay contacted the 55 area residents with Lifeline monitoring that allowed aging or chronically ill individuals to remain independently in their homes. Cay completed over 10,000 hours of volunteer services during this time.
Cay's life was not all work and no play. She was an avid golfer and bowler, where she won many trophies. Cay enjoyed traveling during her retirement years and was blessed to visit Europe 7 times, China, and Mexico.
Cay was a lifelong member of Saint Mary's Catholic Church, the Saint Joseph Auxiliary, the Centerville High School Booster Club, the Croatian Fraternal Union, and several nursing associations.
Mass of the Resurrection will be held 11:30 AM, Saturday, October 8, 2011 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Centerville with Father Dennis Schaab officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Oakland Cemetery, Centerville. A visitation will be held on Saturday at Lange Funeral Home with the family present from 9-11 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the St. Mary's Catholic Church and may be left at either the Church or Lange Funeral Home, 1900 S. 18th St., Centerville, Iowa. Condolences may be left online at www.langefh.com.
Visitation
October 08, 2011 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Lange Funeral Home 1900 S. 18th St. Centerville, IA (641) 856-2000
Mass of Christian Burial
October 08, 2011 11:30 AM
St.Mary's Catholic Church Centerville, IA (641) 437-1984
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