Chesterton resident Betty Jane Benefiel, 83, died Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, at the VNA Horton Hospice Center in Valparaiso.

She was born Jan. 19, 1926, in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Joseph R. and Josephine Nagy, who preceded her in death.

She was also preceded in death by her husband, Jesse R. Benefiel.

She is survived by her son, Jesse (Lola) Benfield Jr. of Pennsylvania; two daughters, Shirley (James) McCarthy of Elma, N.Y., and Sharon Benefiel of Michigan City; grandchildren, Jodi (Phillip) Hamel, Jesse (Kathleen) Benefiel III, James McCarthy Jr., Thomas McCarthy, and Diann Benefiel; and great-grandchildren, Zachary and Jerimiah Hamel and Charles and Amber Childers.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph (Millie) Nagy of Oceanside, Calif.

Betty was a member of the Westchester Township Historical Society and the Moraine Ridge Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, an artist who needlepointed silk on silk to create Oriental rugs and who knit lap robes to donate to area nursing hospitals and to children’s oncology departments at local hospitals, and an antiquer who enjoyed gardening and auctions.

Private family services will be held at a later date. There will be no visitation.

Memorials may be made to VNA Horton Hospice Center, 501 Marquette St., Valparaiso, IN 46383.

Arrangements are under the direction of White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S. Second St. in Chesterton. For information, call 926-1309.

Posted 10/12/2009