Alice T. Benoit

Alice Benoit- our mother and friend to all, 93, passed away on June 17, 2014 after a short illness that had hospitalized her at Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach. She was born in Au Sable Forks, NY on December 17, 1920 to Henry and Nellie Thwaits. She was preceded in death by her parents as well as her only brother Donald Thwaits. Click on Link below to watch Montage video. Alice Benoit Alice grew up in New York where she met and married Tom Benoit. She loved children and after obtaining her teacher certificate, she taught at Keeseville Elementary in upstate New York until she retired in 1977. Tom had already retired by then and they moved to Cocoa Beach, FL where Tom had been renovating the house that Alice lived in until her death. She decided retirement may have come too early so she went back to teaching school once again in Florida, accepting a teaching position at Croton Elementary in Melbourne that required her to obtain her last teaching certification at the University of Central Florida at the young age of 60. She taught all different elementary school ages as well as many with learning challenges, until she ""tried"" retirement again after teaching another five years. But Alice wasn't through yet and found work for several years at the day care center for the First United Methodist Church in Cocoa Beach. In addition to teaching and spending time with her family, Alice loved to read. Although she was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration in her later years, she would listen to her books whenever she could. There was always a revolving door at our home and everyone was made welcomed by Miss Alice. There are not enough words to describe her love, friendship, and compassion as well as her intelligence and unselfish service to others. She remained active in her later years of course and even managed to work out about 4 times per week at the HealthPlex center! She was greatly loved and will be missed more than words can say. Alice was preceded in death by her husband Tom in 1991. She is survived by six children, Rebbie Benoit (Lin Basham) of Titusville, FL, Robbie Benoit (Ed Plato) of Cape Canaveral, FL, Lydia Benoit, Chuck Benoit, and Terry Benoit all of Cocoa Beach, FL and Mark Benoit (Bernice Brown) of Burlington VT. She leaves behind her cherished fifteen grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter representing five generations. Please join us for A Celebration of Life on Sunday, July 13, 2014 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Cocoa Beach Pavilion at the Cocoa Beach Country Club located 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd, Cocoa Beach. Your wonderful stories of our mother are all we ask you bring with you.