Cecile Marie Renuart Bennett, of Sylvania Township, Ohio our beautiful mother entered the gardens of Heaven on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 surrounded by her adoring family. She was born to the late Amedee Renuart and Blanche Roy Renuart on March 8, 1939 in Coral Gables, FL. , and the second youngest of five children.
She attended St. Theresa Catholic School from K-12 and went on to study at the University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL. While at the university, Cecile joined the sorority of Delta,… Read More » Delta, Delta and was also a cheerleader for the University of Miami Hurricanes. In 1959, she married Robert G. Bennett and together had four children.
In 1968, Bob’s new business venture as a Burger King franchisee necessitated the family move to Toledo, Ohio. It didn’t take Cecile long to entrench herself in the community. She belonged to many organizations and took leadership roles in most.
These organizations included, President of The Toledo Museum of Art Ambassadors, Corey Woods Garden Club and the Christ Child Society, she also was a member of The Junior League, P.E.O., Toledo Women’s Club, St. Joseph Parish-Sylvania and the Sylvania Country Club. After a separation from Bob in 1974, Cecile gained a position at the newly opened Jacobson’s Department store as a cosmetics consultant for ten years. Later Cecile worked at Betty Rumpf Interiors until her home could accommodate no more furniture.
Although Mom kept extremely busy volunteering her time, she was always at the ready to help family and friends. Her signature batches of homemade cookies were one of the many ways she expressed her compassion for others who needed cheering up. She was never too busy to stop and talk to a stranger, especially children.
She always greeted friends and strangers with a genuinely warm smile and a sweet hello. She was loved by everyone for her easy going demeanor, sense of humor and big heart. She loved gardening and floral arranging which won her awards from the Garden Forum.
Her love of cooking served her well for family gatherings, contributing to the Toledo Museum of Art cookbook and her Gourmet Group. She loved all things about nature – feeding her birds, squirrels and those mystical hummingbirds. Mom’s love for nature and children lead her to become both a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader for all her kids.
Mom loved the holidays especially Christmas, decorating her home from top to bottom with her hundreds of Santa Clauses and preparing elaborate holiday feasts. For Halloween, she marveled at the children’s costumes and their sweet faces. She always loved those with manners rewarding them with an extra treat or two.
A true talent for sewing and crafting Mom created many costumes for us kids and her grandchildren. Those passing before her, in addition to her parents, are her sister, Lillian Renuart Haskin; brother-in-law, Richard Haskin and former husband Robert (Bob) G. Bennett. Left to cherish Cecile’s memory and continue her legacy of “doing for others” are her children, Teri (Bill) Giacci, Keith, Laura Swafford, and Bob “Boo” (girlfriend Dana Shawn); grandchildren, Billy (Tamara) Giacci, Bailey (Brian) Giacci Ulrich, Jake Swafford and Bryce Swafford; great-grandchildren, Jackson Ulrich and Lucas Ulrich; siblings, Sr. Marguerite Renuart, Phil (Donna) Renuart, Janet Renuart (Arlita Like) and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank all the wonderful nurses and caregivers at ProMedica’s Ebeid Hospice and the many dear friends who brought care and comfort to our dear mother. Family and friends may visit at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Avenue on Monday, October 29, 2018 from 3 p.m. and conclude with a Scripture Service at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Sylvania. If you’d wish to memorialize Cecile, please consider The Christ Child Society of Toledo, P.O. Box 352254, Toledo, OH 43635 or a charity of the donor’s choice.
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