Mona Frances Bennett

BENNETT, Mona Frances (Wallace) Passed away in Halifax on January 9, 2014 in her 101st year. Mona was one of seven beautiful daughters and eight dashing and accomplished sons of Thomas J. Wallace and Ada McNeil. T. J. Wallace was a well-known Halifax optometrist and the firm was appropriately known as Thomas Wallace Sons and Daughters. Mona, like many of her sisters, was a graduate of the Convent of the Sacred Heart and went on to take Dietetic Studies at MacDonald College in Montreal.

In 1936 she was swept off her feet by Frank Bennett (Aug. 2002) a dapper and handsome young engineer from Ottawa. Out of that wonderful and loving marriage came one son, Peter, Toronto (wife Martha and son Andrew) and six daughters: Penny Bennett, Sherbrooke, NS (son, Rick Dugan (Stacie); Susan Bennett, Halifax (partner Frank Schwartz and children Dr. P. J. Murphy (Ria Terins), Heather Murphy (Andy Power) and Ryan Murphy (Sydelle); Jane Bowern, Sotogrande, Spain (husband David and children James Rafuse (Renee) and Lori Rafuse (Tim Ryan); Katherine Bennett, Halifax; Christine Goodday, Halifax (husband Dr. Reginald and children Melanie, Amy, Victoria and Hugh (Sarah) and Vicki Bennett, Vancouver (husband Theodore Arsenault and sons Bennett, Jorden and Luke). Mona was a loving Nana to 14 Grandchildren and 11 Great grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her sisters, Sid, Nonie, Joan and Betty and brothers, Bunty, Dan, Bruce, Ron, Jack, Neil and Louie. Surviving members of that wonderful Wallace family are sisters, Ruth Graham, Halifax, and Eleanor Culver, Nanaimo, plus a multitude of nephews and nieces in Canada and abroad.

Mona was always involved in the community. She was part of the IWK painting group for 25 years, the Sacred Heart Alumni, taking kids to the Waeg, golfing competitively at Ashburn well into her 80’s, the Engineers Wives, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, and most of all caring for and loving all her extended family. She was a grand neighbor and she and Frank were warm and welcoming hosts. She was a prodigious sewer and knitter and many grandchildren welcomed a Nana sweater. Before heading off for an early round of golf two batches of cookies would have been baked and hidden from prowling grandchildren. Grandchildren found a visit with Nana and Skipper always exciting.

Mona was fortunate to have lived a long, active life enriched by the love and laughter of family and friends.

Sincere thanks from all the family to the “Newfoundland Angels”, Shirley and Suzanne, for their loving care given at home prior to her peaceful stay at Drummond Hall.

Cremation has taken place and a Funeral Mass will be held at Canadian Martyr's Church in Halifax, at 10:30 a.m. on March 29, 2014 with a Reception following in the church hall. The family requests no flowers. Donations may be made to Phoenix House and Feed Nova Scotia. To leave an online condolence please visit www.jasnowfuneralhome.com.