VALDINE BENJAMIN

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

VALDINE BENJAMIN August 1, 1955 - October 18, 2012 It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Valdine (Val) Gudrun Benjamin. Left to mourn her are her husband of 37 years, René, daughter, Jennifer (Sean) Kovacic children Kaidyn and Jayna, Renee (Darcy) Brewer children, Dominic and Jordan. Val is survived by her grandmother, Bertha Alexander of Arborg, MB, her sister, Sigrun (Robert) Becker, children, Lori (Kevin) Turcan, Paul and Brenda; sister, Shirley (Dave) Mager, children, Christy, Jamie and Trevor; brother, Gordon (Bernadette) Vidal, children, Nicole and Monica; sister, Gladys Scaramuzzi, children, Katrina, Marcus and Sergio; brothers, Herman and Christopher Vidal. Valdine was predeceased by her parents Siggy (Sigurdur) and Ellen Vidal. Valdine was born in Arborg and lived there until she was 14 years old. She then, moved to St. Vital where she completed her schooling; receiving academic and athletic awards. She married René Benjamin in 1974, and they embarked on their 37 year journey together. She worked in the healthcare field, with most of her working career spent in staffing and in the HR department. Val and René had two daughters, Jennifer and Renee; the family lived in Singapore and in Pakistan in the early years where Val made many friends, and acquaintances. Val enjoyed cooking and entertaining; she was an avid fisher person, loved the outdoors and gardening. She loved her dogs and they were her companions when she was at home alone, she especially enjoyed the walk around the block with her dogs and keeping in touch with the neighbours and other dog walkers. Nothing made her light up and cheer up more than when the grandchildren came in the door and said Hi Amma , no matter how poorly she felt that greeting always perked her up. Kaidyn, Jayna, Dominic and Jordan are the little stars that revolved around Val's universe Val was always concerned about the wellbeing of others no matter how she felt, she was always concerned about how her family, friends and acquaintances were feeling; she tried to make everyone feel better. Val always kept her sense of humour and that helped her deal with the curve balls that her disease threw at her. She still had this sense of humour in the last few days keeping the family laughing as she waited for the end. Val fought the good fight for a very long time; she started having problems in the mid 1980s and received her kidney transplant in 1986. This gave her a reasonable life until 2001 when she went on peritoneal dialysis for a short time and then on hemo dialysis. Her agreement with the machine went well for some time and Val lived a reasonable life, as the years passed Val had to fight hard to keep on top of her game. Val was always appreciative of her friends, the nurses in the dialysis unit for the care and support, as well as from everyone else at the dialysis unit of St. Boniface Hospital. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Dialysis unit of the St. Boniface Hospital and to thank the staff on 6E for helping make her comfortable in those last precious days, your kindness, compassion and understanding is greatly appreciated. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Manitoba Branch. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service celebrating Val's life will be held on Sunday, October 28, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. in the Coutu Funeral Chapel, 680 Archibald Street. The Coutu Family in care of arrangements: E.J. COUTU CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS 680 Archibald Street 204-253-5086 ejcoutu.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 20, 2012