Noralee Benedict

Noralee Benedict Gelhaar Born March 13, 1930; died February 11, 2010 at Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame of complications following surgery. A native of Kansas City, Mo., Noralee moved to California in 1959, when she married Eugene L. Gelhaar, with whom she celebrated their 50th anniversary last December 21. She leaves him, their three children, two sons-in law and their grandson, to whom she was devoted as only a mother, mother-in-law and grandmother can be. In addition to '' Gene, the mourners are Meredith Elin Cecile LaFlesh and her husband, Tom; Anastasia Sarah Hope Pfluke, her husband, John, and Noralee''s wonderful grandson Anthony; and Noralee and '' Gene''s son, Benedict Morrison, best known as Ned. She cherished Ned''s wife, Joette, who succumbed to breast cancer last July. Her heart also encompassed her four fine step-grandchildren, Teri LaFlesh and her brother Jeff LaFlesh and Gabrielle and Johnny Pfluke. Immediately after college, Noralee had a varied career in journalism, working as a reporter on newspapers from Cameron, Missouri to Torrance, California. She was the first woman on the City Desk of the Kansas City Star, a job from which she resigned when she moved to San Francisco to marry '' Gene. They had met in theatre classes at Kansas City (Mo.) Junior College, and her love of theatre lasted all her life. She founded and directed ccent Theatre in Kansas City in the 1950''s. She co-starred in Robert Altman''s classic 1951 extravaganza Corn''s-A-Poppin''. Many people who were children in Millbrae in the early 1970''s remember her as the director of the Lincoln Circle Children''s Theatre, for which she wrote the plays, made the costumes, constructed the sets and props, and did the publicity while teaching the children to act. From the mid-'' 70''s to the early 1990''s she was a costume director for Capuchino High School theatre and then for the Capuchino Community Theatre. In spite of a life filled with illness, Noralee never became discouraged. She remained cheerful and positive, always consoled by her solid Catholic faith. She charmed everyone she met. Family and friends may visit on Wednesday, February 17 after 6:30 PM at the CHAPEL OF THE HIGHLANDS, El Camino Real at 194 Millwood Drive in Millbrae where a Rosary will be recited for the repose of her soul at 7:00 PM; Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday morning, February 18 at St. Dunstan''s Catholic Church, 1133 Broadway in Millbrae beginning at 11:00 AM; committal to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.