Vanessa Dale Prevost

"How did it get so late so soon?

It's night before its afternoon.

December is here before its June.

My goodness, how the time has flewn.

How did it get so late so soon?"

~ Dr. Seuss

East Lyme - Vanessa Dale (Benson) Prevost, the wife of Gaetan "Charlie" Prevost, passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2015.

Vanessa was born in New London, the daughter of Josephine and the late Robert Benson. In 1975, she and Charlie were married in Niantic, where they made their home and raised their family.

Vanessa was a devoted mother to her children, stepchild, a grandchild and great-grandchildren – as well as to any of their friends who needed a home. Her door was always open, and the coffee was always hot.

Vanessa attended Waterford and East Lyme schools. At 18 she beat cancer. At an early age she marched with the Waterford VFW Drill Team and, later in life, she co-coached with the East Lyme Youth Football League Cheerleaders. She had been the food service manager at The Lighthouse Inn, but her favorite job was her family, supporting them in sports events or any other endeavors they chose. She loved sewing, gardening and reupholstering furniture. There weren't any jobs she wouldn't tackle, including making furniture with her father and husband. She was tiny but mighty!

Surviving her, besides her mother and loving husband, are her children, Christopher, Shawn, Nancy, Amanda, Alyssa, Mary Elizabeth (Emmy) and Zachary Prevost; and her grandchildren, Sabryna, Elawyn, Alexandria and Anna Prevost. She also leaves her brothers, Lamont, Daniel and Scott Benson; and sisters Pamela Nelson, Kathleen Sievers and Mary-Dawn Hamilton and their spouses, children and grandchildren; as well as a myriad of nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many friends.

At Vanessa's request, there will be no calling hours.

Donations may be made in her memory to Center for Hospice Care, 227 Dunham St., Norwich, CT 06360.

Please visit www.fultontherouxniantic.com for photos and tributes.