Leona J. "Jane" Bennett

Leona J. "Jane" (McClure) Bennett, 93, died September 13, 2025 at Elcor Nursing Facility in Horseheads, NY.

She was born February 19, 1932 in Elmira, NY to the late Kenneth L. and Leona M. (Zinn-Carroll) McClure. She is survived by: her son James Bennett (Sheila Sementelli) of Mill Hall, PA; daughters Lucinda Bennett of Elmira, NY, and Sue Canale (Mark) of Egg Harbor City, NJ; her grandchildren - Gianna, Marlee, and Kendra Canale, Janet Bennett Nordin (Nick Brown), Kevin Bennett (Mercedi), Michael Bennett, John P. Sigmon, Jennifer Kapp, Matthew Sigmon (Lindsay),and Amanda Horton (Chris); her sisters-in-law Barbara McClure, Betty Bennett, Connie McClure; and brother -in-law Stan Cole; her 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by: her husband Durland Bennett; son Thomas A. Bennett; daughter Pamela Sigmon Pittman; and granddaughter Deborah Sigmon Cordry.

Jane attended school in Elmira, then graduated from Cortland State Teachers College in 1954 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught at Trumansburg Central School, the Neighborhood House Nursery School, and First Presbyterian Church Nursery School, and later worked for the Chemung County Board of Elections (at the Southside Fire Station) for many decades. 

She married her husband Durland E. Bennett, on July 9, 1955 and raised their family in Elmira. She was an avid reader, and was an early subscriber to the first geneology websites and magazines. You could tell where in her life people came from by th ename they called her, whether it was Janey, Jane, Lee, or Leona. Any dog she met seemed to love her, even if they didn't like other people. Summers were spent tending our vegetable garden and the vast number of flowering plants in the yard, at Dunn Field watching the Pioneers play ball, or at her favorite place of all, Keuka Lake. 

Friends and family are invited to Olthof Funeral Home, 1050 Pennsylvania Ave in Elmira, NY for calling hours on Saturday, October 11, 2025 from 10:30 AM until 12:00 PM when her memorial service will begin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the Thomas Bennett Memorial Scholarship Fund at Dundee Central School, 55 Water Street, Dundee, NY 14837.