Dolores J. Benjamin

Dolores J. Benjamin, 94, a resident of Lutheran Hillside Village in Peoria, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 15, 2025, after several years of ill health.
Dolores was born on June 19, 1930, to Milton "Mike" and Helen Manuel in Peoria, Illinois.
She was of Serbian, Italian, and Polish ancestry. As a child, Dolores' resemblance to Shirley Temple and her talent for dancing and showmanship brought her some local fame in the 1930s. On more than one occasion, she was offered the opportunity to pursue dancing as a career, but she opted for a more traditional life instead.
Dolores was a graduate of Manual High School and Bradley University, where she excelled in her studies. She met her husband, Hollis, at Bradley University where he earned his Bachelor's degree before attending law school at the University of Illinois in Urbana. They married in 1952 and lived in Santa Barbara, California and Olympia, Washington before returning to live in Peoria. For a few years, Dolores worked tirelessly for her husband as he established his law practice in Peoria and actively served the community.
Dolores gave birth to two children - Cheri and Bart - and truly loved motherhood. She has also loved a cat named Taffy, a bird named Lindy, many friends throughout her life, and the kind people at Lutheran Hillside Village, who provided care and friendship in her final years.
In years past, Dolores was an energetic and enthusiastic person who had many interests, including oil painting, crocheting, embroidery, flower arranging, and gourmet cooking. She was an avid reader and loved to learn new things. She helped with many activities at the old Lakeview Museum. She collected dolls and teddy bears and gave generously to the poor.
Dolores was also a devout Christian and attended several Peoria area churches, including First English Lutheran and Grace Presbyterian churches, before illnesses prevented her from regular attendance. However, she would remain an avid reader of the Bible for the remainder of her life. In recent years, a number of health issues and her hypersensitivity to environmental pollution contributed to her declining health.
Dolores is survived by her children, Cheri Benjamin of Peoria and Bart (Tammy) Benjamin of Bloomingdale, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Hollis W. Benjamin and her sister Rebecca Manuel (Babcock).
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at The Wilton Mortuary with visitation a half hour prior. Entombment will take place at a later date in the American Mausoleum in Peoria. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Salvation Army or Lutheran Hillside Village.