Dorothy Benson was born on Merrick, Long Island, New York on September 14th, 1927. She was the youngest of ten children born to Francesco and Rosaria D’Amico. Dorothy had six sisters and three brothers (Josephine, Jean, Frank, Viola, Mildred, Mary, Jack, Victor and Gloria), all of whom pre-deceased Dorothy.
Dorothy was married for 32 years to Domenick Squillacioti and has four children - Diane, Nancy, Richard and Christopher and Joe, a stepson. She has seven grandchildren - Pamela, Amanda, Matthew, Adam, Michael, Isabel and Elisabeth, fourteen great grandchildren and one great-great grandson. Dorothy also had many nieces and nephews, some of whom pre-deceased her, and she still has regular contact with her nephews Joe and Frank as well as nieces Jeanette, Carol, Elaine and Joyce.
Dorothy was a homemaker for many years but also volunteered at the local elementary school, was PTA President and was a member of the Board of Education. She was a caregiver for her parents as she raised her children. Dorothy was a talented artist, loved flowers and gardening and was a gourmet cook.
Although Dorothy was born on Long Island, she has lived in Central Florida for 30 years with her second husband, Charles Benson. She and Charlie owned a kitchen and bath design store in Connecticut but retired to Winter Springs to enjoy the weather, play golf and travel. All of Dorothy’s remaining sisters and one brother lived in Central Florida, as well. Dorothy volunteered at a local hospice organization and was also caregiver for her sisters and brother-in-law as they aged.
Dorothy was also responsible for founding a small family charity in 1999 called the Joseph G. Markoly Foundation, named after a brother-in-law. Over the past twenty-five years the Markoly Foundation has provided funding to 65 local nonprofit organizations for a total amount of $2,700,000.00. The foundation awards grants to programs aimed at providing critical services to seniors and children.
Dorothy was truly a force of nature and lived a happy, healthy life, retaining her wicked sense of humor to the age of 97 years and 8 months. She will be missed by all of us who had the joy of being in her life.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Markoly Foundation and would be gratefully appreciated. More information can be found at the website: www.markolyfoundation.org
Previous Events
Celebration Of Life
30
May
420 W. State Road 434
Winter Springs, FL 32708
