Mary E. Hogan Bencini died suddenly on April 7, 2012. Born Jan. 16, 1949, in Green Bay, WI, Mary was a proud and dedicated resident of Geneva, where she taught second grade at Western Avenue Elementary School for 34 years.
Mary was a relentless volunteer, and her efforts were recognized in 2004 when she was the recipient of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce Wood Community Service award for her many contributions to the community, both in and out of the classroom.
Mary was actively involved in many Geneva-area causes including serving as a long-time board member of the Geneva History Center. Mary served as an inspiration to her family and friends, both as an educator and community volunteer. Despite living in Illinois all of her adult life, Mary remained a loyal fan of both the University of Wisconsin Badgers (class of '71) and her beloved Green Bay Packers!
Mary was preceded in death by her father, Richard, and is survived by her mother, Joan C. Hogan of Green Bay, WI, and Sarasota, FL. Other survivors include her five sisters, Kathy (Rick) Zieman, St. Paul, MN, Julie Hogan (Scott) Segner, Albuquerque, NM, Sara (Roger) Meier, Roswell, GA, Amy Hogan, Green Bay, and Molly (Rodney) Marchand, Singapore, and her two brothers, Bob Hogan, Decatur, GA, and Mark (Janet) Hogan, Wauwatosa, WI.
Mary doted on her 16 nieces and nephews, Brian (Tracy) Zieman, Sarah (Brock) Rice, Kate Zieman, Keely and Erin Hogan Braker, Molly, Patrick and Matthew Hogan, Emily (Ed) Borkowski, John, Ellen, and Daniel Meier, Jennifer (Riley)Woldt, Kevan Deuster, and Abbey and Grace Marchand. Mary is further survived by her grand nieces and nephews Brandon, Julianna, Timothy, Andrew, Michael and Gabriel Zieman, Allison Rice, and Payton Woldt.
Consistent with the way Mary lived her life, she was a donor to the Gift of Hope, Organ and Tissue Donor Network, and she would encourage all of us to make a difference in someone else's life by signing the Donor Registry.
Visitation will be held at the Malone Funeral Home 324 E. State St. (Rt. 38) Geneva on Saturday, April 21, 2012 beginning at 9 a.m. followed by a 1 p.m. service.
Mary's family is most appreciative of the outpouring of love and affection from her many friends and former students in the Geneva community. Mary's spirit shall live on in all of us whom she loved so dearly.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Mary Hogan Bencini Scholarship Endowment, c/o The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, or to the Geneva History Center are appreciated.
Courtesy of Malone Funeral Home.
