MaryLou S. Manica passed Monday August 12, 2024 at the Thompson House in Brattleboro, VT.

Born November 23, 1941 in Greenfield, she was the daughter of Louis C. and Mary (Dalmaso) Manica.  She graduated from Greenfield High School in 1960 from Northampton Commercial College in 1962 and received her AA in Management in 1975 from the University of Maryland while employed at the Pentagon.  Upon graduation from college in 1962, she was employed by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, CT as a stenographer.  In 1963, she moved to Middletown, RI and worked in the Household Finance Corporation until 1965.  She worked fifteen years as a stenographer for Civil Service in California, Germany, and Colorado. MaryLou also worked at the Pentagon as a stenographer and budget analyst.  She was a stay-at-home mom while in Florida and volunteered in the school system from kindergarten through high school. Between volunteering and maintaining a home, she worked cleaning houses part-time, substitute teaching, and in various capacities at the YMCA, Home Care Corporation, and the local newspaper.  One year was devoted to housing and teaching a Taiwanese teenager who knew no English--quite the challenge.

After the children graduated from high school in 2001, she moved back to Greenfield and lived in the same house in which she was raised.  She worked for over ten years at BJ’s Wholesale Club as a cashier and retired in November 2011.  She enjoyed walking, reading, the arts, oldies music, and crossword puzzles. She also enjoyed playing Scrabble, Lexulous, Bingo, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, and keeping up with Facebook friends on the computer.  She volunteered in Money Management for the county, in the Library at Newton School, as Bingo helper at Buckley Health Care Center, and as a communicant/greeter at Holy Trinity Church.

MaryLou married Donald A. Welcome on September 15, 1962 and divorced in July of 1969.  She then married Karl T. (Ted) Benson on April 19, 1980 and divorced in July 1989.  She is survived by a son, Christopher Benson-Manica of San Fransisco, CA; a daughter, Jennifer Roderick of Morganton, GA; four grandchildren: Charity Ruth, Charles Simeon, and Esther Elisabeth Roderick and Xavier; one step grandchild, Lux; one sister, Sylvia O’Neil of Vernon, VT; two nephews; one grandnephew; one niece; and one grand-niece.

She was preceded in death by her brother Louis Manica, Jr.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial is scheduled for Tuesday August 20, 2024 at 10AM at Holy Trinity Church 133 Main St. Greenfield. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. A calling hour will be held Tuesday morning from 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM at Kostanski Funeral Home 220 Federal St. Greenfield.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Pioneer Valley Hospice and Palliative Care 329 Conway St. Ste 2, Greenfield, MA 01301 or a charity of your choice. For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com