Bennetto, Karen

Karen Bennetto - age: 61
(November 07, 1953 to December 08, 2014 )
Resident of Willits, California

Obituary:
Karen Bennetto
Karen Bennetto’s favorite saying was “If you can’t be a good example, at least be a horrible warning.” She devoted her 61 years to doing just that.
Karen worked as a nurse before leaving her job to raise six perfect children. She had an unerring nose for excitement, managing to ride elephants in the high deserts of Oregon; to discover the “employees only” floor of the Lawrence Hall of Science; and to travel to Chile in winter (ostensively to move). She grew the most amazingly fragrant roses. She loved field trips, documentaries, and horses. She disliked kale, but we all have our flaws. She claimed to possess a magic wand but whenever asked to use it replied that it was in the repair shop.
In her own mind, Karen presided over an English Cottage while advising the President and chronicling the tales of her offbeat offspring; her floors were never dirty and there was never dog hair lying around. In her imagination she frequently traveled to other countries and spoke many languages. Eating sweetened condensed milk out of the can held no calories.
In the last few years of her life, Karen was devoted to caring for her mother (now deceased) and her father, as well as her husband and three children still at home. People knew her as the slightly eccentric, colorful mother whose open heart and open doors sheltered the occasional stray, and who always had a funny story to tell – usually at her own expense.
Her demise was swift: after being diagnosed with Amyloidosis in February of 2014, she spent her remaining months creating mementos for her family until her death on December 8, 2014. She looked forward to seeing her Lord face to face in heaven and slipped peacefully away. Although her body was failing, she never lost her brand of unique humor, and suggested that her funeral be a Viking style pyre in the pond.
A viewing for friends and family will be held at Eversole Mortuary on Friday, December 12, 2014 from 5 to 8 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held at Redwood Valley Community Church on Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 1 p.m.