Marie-Marguerite Benoit

Marie-Marguerite ÒMargaretÓ Benoit, 88, died from complications of Alzheimer Disease Monday morning, Feb. 5, 2007, at her daughter Stella´s home in Eagle, Idaho. Margaret was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island to her parents, Joseph-Philippe Andre Duhamel and Marie Jeanne Cartier. She had an older brother, Georges Duhamel and younger sister, Marie-Florence Louise Duhamel. Sadly, she was preceded in death by her mother at age 65, brother at age 27 and sister at age 33. As a child Margaret was a student boarder at St. Claire´s Convent in Woonsocket, where she attended both Jesus and Mary Elementary School and St. Claire High School located at 94 Carrington Avenue. Needless to say, Margaret´s parents hoped she would become a nun, but Margaret had other plans when she met her first love; Alfred Roland Viens. At the age of 16, Margaret married Alfred at Precious Blood Church and they had a son, George Philip. Sadly, Alfred´s death preceded hers leaving Margaret a 23-year-old widow with a two-year-old son. To support her young son, Margaret worked in the textile mills and factories of Woonsocket. Once again in 1942 Maggie found love when she met Joseph-Eugene Ernest Benoit. The couple married in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and had six children: Gerald Robert, Stella Jane, Roberta Edwina, Claudette Delores, and Phyllis Pauline. In 1946, Margaret´s three eldest children contracted polio and Gerald Robert died at age two. Determined to save her two other afflicted children, Margaret worked diligently providing nursing care and physical therapy. Her remarkable efforts prevailed and her children survived to live normal healthy lives to today. Ê Opportunity took Eugene and Margaret to California where Eugene worked as a machinist and toolmaker. Margaret also worked to help her husband. Margaret never said ÒI can´tÓ but always said ÒI canÓ and she accepted any factory job offered. Through perseverance and studying, Margaret became successful at whatever she attempted. She soon became an expert in soldering electronic components, plastic injection molding and mold making, and a master machinist and toolmaker. Margaret passed on her skills and expertise to her son, George and taught him the machinist trade. She also taught her daughter-in-law, Charlene Viens how to solder electronic components. As a result of Margaret´s tutelage, Charlene progressed in the field of Electronic Engineering and George became a master machinist and toolmaker. Mother and son worked together side-by-side until she retired in 1983. Again in the early 1960s Margaret found herself alone to raise her young children. So Margaret brought her father to live with her in California and she leaned on him for support while together they raised her children. Margaret remained single and devoted the rest of her life to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sadly, Margaret was again preceded in death by her father at age 93 and her youngest daughter Phyllis at age 48. Margaret is survived by her four children: George P. Viens [Littlerock, Calif.], Stella J. Archer-Giese [Eagle, ID], Roberta E. Wrona-Stoops [Yukon, Okla.], and Claudette D. Rockwell [Burbank, Calif.]; 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. A memorial service for Maggie will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, Feb. 9, at the Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Timothy Ritchey of Holy Apostles Catholic Church, Meridian, officiating. A funeral mass for Margaret will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday Feb. 13, 2007 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Burbank, Calif. Graveside services and internment will follow at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Hollywood, Calif.