Sharon Helen McAuliffe Benson

Sharon Helen McAuliffe Benson was born on September 13, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York. After her elementary schooling at Saint Vincent Ferrer, Sharon attended Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School for Girls, also in Brooklyn. In 1953, she entered Rosemont College in suburban Philadelphia and graduated in 1957 with majors in history and political science. Following graduation, she first taught English at a Catholic high school in New Jersey and then took a position in New York City with the television production company, Goodson-Todman Productions. As a junior at Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, Sharon's younger brother Dennis was eager to introduce her to one of his professors. Before long she accepted the marriage proposal of John Christopher Benson and they were wed on December 29, 1962 at the Church of Saint Thomas More in New York City.

After their marriage, Sharon and John moved to Montclair, New Jersey and, in 1966, they welcomed the birth of their daughter Juliana Marie Benson. For years Sharon and John held an annual subscription to the Metropolitan Opera and were often seen at theater, museum, and gallery events in New York City. They frequently traveled internationally, especially to their favorite Italian cities. For a number of years, Sharon also traveled for business, exploring new places in her role as an agent for a popular travel company in Montclair. After her husband's death, Sharon moved to Cedar Grove and then to West Caldwell, New Jersey. On May 6, 2023, she died peacefully in her sleep.

She is survived by her beloved daughter Juliana Benson, her older sister Patricia Dawson, her younger brother Dennis McAuliffe and her many loving and loved nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Her funeral mass was held on May 31, 2023 at Holy Trinity Church in Washington, DC, followed by inurnment in the Columbarium at Holy Rood Cemetery.