Barbara Anne Benevento

THE CASEY FAMILY IS HONORED TO BE CARING FOR AND ASSISTING THE FAMILY OF BARBARA ANNE (KIELY) BENEVENTO
Devoted to her family and welfare of others
WATERBURY – Barbara Anne (Kiely) Benevento, age 82, of Waterbury, wife of Philip V. Benevento passed away peacefully on December 14, 2021 at Waterbury Hospital after a brief illness.
Barbara was born on April 11, 1939 in New York City, the daughter of the late Maurice and Bertha (Schneider) Kiely. She spent her early childhood years living in the Bronx until her family moved to Dumont, NJ. She graduated from St Cecilia's High School in Englewood, NJ with the Class of 1957. Barbara attended Caldwell College in Caldwell, NJ for one year and completed her undergraduate work at the College of St. Elizabeth with a B.A. in English. She began her career teaching at her alma mater, St Cecilia's High School, and later taught eighth grade at the Honiss School in Dumont, NJ. Barbara left teaching to accept a position as Associate Director of Children's Books at the Prentiss Hall Publishing Co. in New York City.
Following her marriage to Philip on December 22, 1968, she moved to Waterbury where she began her career as a social worker at the DCYS in Waterbury. In her next position she served as the social worker at United Cerebral Palsy of Waterbury. As a devoted advocate for the disadvantaged, Barbara was instrumental in establishing a college program for handicapped students through a collaboration between the UCP and Mattatuck Community College. She completed her career in social work as a counsellor for troubled youth admitted to the Behavioral Health Program at Waterbury Hospital. While there, she implemented the "Adopt a Plant" program to encourage teens to take responsibility for nurturing their plants and to create an appreciation of horticulture.
Left to honor and cherish her memory, besides her devoted husband of nearly 53 years, Philip, Barbara leaves her sister, Patricia (Pat) Walworth and her husband Don and her brother, Maurice Kiely, and his wife, Emily. Barbara also leaves four special nieces and their spouses: Michelle and Michael McNulty, Sharon and Joseph Mannino, Anne Marie and Andy Astudillo and Joyce and Charles Hunter. In addition she is survived by eight grand nephews, seven grandnieces, three great grand nieces and two great grand nephews. She also leaves her brothers-in-law, Dr Louis A. Benevento and his spouse, Patrick Duffy, and Bernard Benevento. In addition to her parents, Barbara was predeceased by a niece, Laura Otte, and a great grand nephew, Grant.
A Memorial Gathering in celebration of Barbara's life will be held on Sunday, December 19, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Casey's Eastside Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Services 1987 East Main St @ Southmayd Rd Waterbury CT 06705.
For those who wish to make a contribution in Barbara's name, a donation to the Philip V. Benevento Cultural Program for Adults at the Silas Bronson Library would be greatly appreciated by her family. Please send your contribution to "The Friends of Silas Bronson Library" PO Box 2853, Waterbury, CT 06723. Please indicate in the memo line: "Benevento Program". We continue to remain very concerned about the ongoing pandemic so masks will be required during all indoor services whether you are vaccinated or not. Memories last only if you share them, so you are encouraged to leave a condolence, words of comfort or personal memory with the Benevento family on Barbara's tribute page at www.eastsidememorial.com.