Emma Bennett, 88, of Sweet Home died Sept. 18, 2009.
She was born in Watrous, N.M. to Roman and Adela (Ortiz) Silva. She was raised and schooled in Santa Fe, N.M. and Fort Collins, Colo.
After secretarial school, she moved to Portland, where she met her lifelong love Jim Bennett. They were married in 1953.
Soon after, they moved to the Los Angeles area and started a family of four children. Mrs. Bennett worked as a secretary at a local hospital where she was often called upon as an interpreter because of her bilingual skills. They moved back to Oregon in 1971 after purchasing a small farm in Crawfordsville.
Mrs. Bennett was a devoted Catholic her entire life. She was a member of the Saint Helen’s Women’s Club in Sweet Home. She worked as a secretary for the Sweet Home City Hall for many years until her retirement.
She loved to sew, making many of her children’s clothes as well as her own. She loved dancing and was a member of the Elks Lodge. Her hobbies included canning fruits and vegetables raised on the family farm and watching her children play sports. She never missed a game.
Mrs. Bennett is survived by her husband, Jim Bennett of Sweet Home; sons Bill Bennett and daughter-in-law Pam of Wilsonville, Gary Bennett and daughter-in-law Kari of Crawfordsville and Greg Bennett and daughter-in-law Lisa of Seattle, Wash.; daughter Cindy Strader and son-in-law Gary of Corvallis; brothers Tito and Floyd of New Mexico; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and eight siblings.
Closed casket visitation will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Rosary will be 6 p.m. Tuesday at St. Helen’s Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at St. Helen’s Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Saint Helen’s Women’s Club.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.