Mary Bennett

Mary Del'Andrea Bennett, 93, of Boise, Idaho, a daughter of Benjamin and Candida Del'Andrea, died Thursday, May 13, at Friendship House of the Marquis Care nursing home, in Boise. Complications from pneumonia were contributing factors. Mary, who became known as "Mother of the House" during her time with Marquis, was born in Hiawatha, Utah, on November 11, 1916. As "Mother," she warmly befriended other residents; kind laughter and ready smile endeared herself to the staff. Mary's parents immigrated to America from the little mountain town of Selva di Cadore near Cortina, in northern Italy. Benjamin was a blacksmith and worked in the coal mines near Price, Utah. In addition to Mary, the family had two sons and another daughter; all are deceased. During the Depression era Mary attended high school in Palisades, CO., where the family lived for a time, but by World War II she was back in Utah, having joined the nation in its war effort by working at Hill AFB outside Ogden, north of Salt Lake City. It was there she met her second husband, James E. Bennett, who was an Army paratrooper. The couple married and in 1945 they moved to Boise, where Mary lived throughout the rest of her life. She and James, who was killed in 1966 in a logging truck accident, had three children--two daughters, Constance Gaye Bennett and Carolyn Joan Carroll, and a son, Bruce Rolla Bennett; Mary's first son, Brent J. Bennett, was from a previous marriage. Bruce, a Lance Corporal in the Marines, was killed in action in Vietnam, also in 1966. His death remained throughout Mary's life a constant source of sadness. Perhaps inspired by that sadness, Mary's favorite book, and movie, was "Gone With the Wind." She knew the Civil War story by heart and had numerous editions of the book always with her. Music gave her solace, and one of her favorite pieces of furniture was her very first cabinet that housed a record player. Opera was perhaps her favorite genre, but Mary was also interested in a wide range of other subjects including poetry, European and ancient Egyptian history and art, biographies of people like Einstein, Franklin Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy—she was, after all, a lifelong Democrat. She painted Idaho landscapes, sewed, crocheted and many of her embroidered works are treasured by family and friends. As a devoted Roman Catholic and a parishioner at St. John's R.C. Cathedral in Boise, it was an easy choice for her to work at St. Alphonsus hospital in Boise. Her career there was in the business office until her retirement. But even in retirement Mary was a keen observer of current events. However up to date on modern life Mary was, she remained at heart a Romantic. Her favorite poem was by the late 19th-century American, James Russell Lowell entitled, "Sir Launfal." Mary is survived by son Brent, daughter Carolyn and her husband, Lewis Carroll, their son Sam and his son, Gabriel. Also, by Constance Gaye Bennett and her husband, Paul Hosefros and their son, Brian. Interment will be under the auspices of Cloverdale Funeral Home, Boise. No public services are planned. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make any contributions to the wonderful, caring staff of: Marquis Care at Shaw Mountain Friendship House 909 Reserve St., Boise, Idaho 83712 To share memories with the family, please visit Mary's memorial website at www.CloverdaleFuneralHome.com.