Thomasina Bena

Thomasina. Bena, 90, of Highlands Ranch, CO passed away on September 9, 2021. As a child, Tomi lived in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois with her adoptive parents, John and Ruth Lowry. She attended elementary and high schools in Champaign before attending Fontbonne College in Clayton, Missouri. While at Fontbonne, Tomi met her future spouse, Ronald Bena, a soon-to-be 2LT in the Air Force. They were married in 1952, and moved to Lubbock, Texas. Their career with the Air Force spanned 26 years. Tomi and her family lived in and around Air Force bases all around the country, until Ron retired in 1978 at the rank of Colonel. They moved to Colorado where Ron began his second career with Martin-Marietta, retiring for the second time in 1991. For 25 years in their retirement, Tomi and her husband travelled extensively, went on many cruises, and visited their five children around the country. In 2008, they moved into VI (a Hyatt Retirement Community where they were involved in many activities and events over the years. Tomi leaves behind their five children – Christi, Tracy, Clare, John, and Bill; eleven grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her beloved husband, Ron, her parents, and a grandson, Mark Weber. Friday, September 24, 2021 Pax Christi Catholic Church 5761 McArthur Ranch Road Littleton, CO 80124 10:45 Rosary 11:00 Funeral Mass 12:00 Reception (In Pax Christi Church Hall) Ft. Logan National Cemetery 2:00 Arrival 2:30 Memorial Service In lieu of flowers, please make a gift to support the Highlands Ranch Hospital Oncology Fund at the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. Please send your gift in memory of Thomasina Bena to: University of Colorado Foundation, PO Box 17126, Denver CO 80217. On the memo line of the check, please note Tomi’s name and make it payable to the CU Foundation. Gifts may also be made online at https://giving.cu.edu/fund/highlands-ranch-hospital-oncology-fund. -Or- In lieu of flowers, please make a gift to support Esperanza for Honduras – whose Mission is to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for the underserved K-12 children at the Home of Nazareth School in Honduras. Esperanza is non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the education nutrition and well-being of children in Honduras ... they operate through contributions that support the education, nutrition, and well-being of the children and community at Home of Nazareth school in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Esperanza has been supporting the education of these impoverished parish children or over 10 years … started by Tracy McNulty, the foundation provides tuition, food, clothing, and teaching supplies to promote a positive learning environment. Through this effort they hope to break the cycle of poverty and allow these children to reach their potential. https://esperanzaforhonduras.org/Donations-in-Memorial