Tanya Linn Bennett

Tanya Linn Bennett (née Tanya Leslie Linn) passed away on Friday, March 13, 2026, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 63.

Tanya was raised in Chatham, New Jersey by Reverend Theodore Linn, a pastor in the United Methodist Church, and Carol Wright Linn, a public school teacher. She met her husband of 40 years, Kenneth Gwynne Bennett, while working at the William Pitt Restaurant in Chatham.

Tanya graduated from Chatham Borough High School in 1980 and earned her Bachelor's degree at Allegheny College in 1984. She and Kenneth married in 1985 and settled back in their hometown of Chatham, where they raised three children, were members of the Chatham United Methodist Church and Minisink Swim Club, made countless friends and were pillars of the community.

After a career in advertising and public relations and time spent volunteering as a lay youth leader at Chatham United Methodist Church, Tanya felt called to ministry, and she went back to earn her Master of Divinity from Drew Theological School in 2000 (summa cum laude), Master of Philosophy of Religion in 2005, and PhD in Sociology of Religion in 2011. She devoted her career to Drew University, serving as Associate Dean for Vocation and Formation, Associate Professor in the Practice of Public Theology and Vocation, and University Chaplain. Tanya was granted Emerita status upon her retirement from Drew University in February 2026.

Tanya was an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and served local churches in Chatham, Hackettstown, Passaic, Plainfield, Berkeley Heights, Bernardsville, and South River. She was chair and an active member of many committees within the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She was passionate about shaping religious leaders for the future and was active in a variety of social justice movements focused on anti-racism and gender equity. Her liturgical writings have been published by Abingdon Press, Rowman & Littlefield, Duke University Press, and Worship Arts Magazine.

Tanya is survived by her husband, Kenneth Gwynne Bennett, their three children: Caty Bennett (Avery) Gray, Liza (Max) Crawley, and Teddy (Maggie) Bennett; grandchildren: John Gray, Elliott Gray, Eloise Bennett, and two forthcoming grandchildren; her father, Theodore Linn; sister, Kirstin (Paul) Newman; beloved sisters in law Allison (Theodore) Pishko and Diana (Mark) Schlobohm; mother-in-law Ann Bennett; great aunt-in-law Barbara Bennett; nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and innumerable mentees during her time in ministry, who have all shown incredible love and support during her cancer journey. She is preceded in death by her mother, Carol Wright Linn and her father in-ln-law, John Bennett. She leaves behind an inspiring legacy of faith, mentorship, service and passion and will be sorely missed.

Friends are welcome to join in remembrance of Tanya at her memorial service on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 11:00am at the Morristown United Methodist Church at 50 South Park Place in Morristown, NJ. The family encourages all attendees to wear bright colors.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the many causes Tanya was passionate about: United Methodist Committee on Relief, Covenant House, A Second Chance for Ziva, Planned Parenthood, or United Women in Faith.