Elena M. Benitez

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Elena M. Benitez.

A loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and confidant, Elena Benitez, aka Abuela, Nona, Mama, Mamita, Grams, Grammy and GG, passed away peacefully on Sept.  28, 2020. She was born in Argentina on Dec. 17, 1930, to Jose Mariani and Maria (Sarto) Mariani. In 1966 the Benitez family immigrated to the United States where they settled in Maryland. Elena and Luis retired from their government jobs in 1989 and relocated to North Myrtle Beach.

Elena was predeceased by her husband, Luis Benitez, in 2013, her sister, Aida Apicella, in 2009, and two grandchildren, Nicole Mulloy and Kyle Clynes.

She is survived by her five children: son, Oscar and wife Guadalupe; daughter, Adriana and husband Tom; daughter Aida and husband Joe; daughter Janet and husband Brian; and daughter Gabriela;  her eight grandchildren, Oscar Jr. and wife Rosemary, Alexander Hicks and wife Carrye, Kimberly Hicks and Bill Davis, Matthew Mulloy, Joshua Clynes, Zachery Clynes, Shelby Tashjian and Joseph Tashjian II; her eight great-grandchildren, Kirsten Gutierrez-Benitez, Jessica Benitez, Melissa Benitez, David Benitez, Asher Hicks, Harper Hicks, Michael Lucas and Isabella Davis; and her two great-great-grandchildren,  Nicholas Benitez and Isabella Bradshaw; as well as other relatives and friends.

Elena cherished her family and played an integral role in the lives of those close to her. Always confident and beautiful, she led by example and was the perfect model for parenting, grandparenting, unconditional love, humor and inner strength. Being with her family was what she enjoyed most of all. 

Elena lived a full life as a loving wife, wonderful mother and homemaker and later as a government worker for the Library of Congress.

She was an active member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in North Myrtle Beach.

A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in North Myrtle Beach. There will be a celebration of life from 12 noon to 3:30 p.m. at TBD in North Myrtle Beach. Please RSVP to abuela0391@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach are welcome in remembrance of Elena. Their website is https://humanesocietynmb.org/ and the address is P.O Box 3369, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582.