Muriel Benedict

Madison / San Pedro, CA - Muriel Gertrude Benedict, age 87, passed away peacefully at Oakwood Village-University Woods on December 25, 2016. Born to Ralph A. and Mabel A. (Hutchinson) Goodell on July 6, 1929, Muriel grew up in Lansing, MI graduating from Sexton High School. Nurtured by their parent's love of music, Muriel and her two sisters, Margaret and Mary, spent innumerable hours at the keyboard becoming accomplished pianists. Muriel met her beloved husband, James Stephen Benedict, at Albion College and they married in 1951. Much of her life was devoted to raising her five children and supporting her husband in his medical career, community service, art and writing.

Muriel spent her life in service to others, through her church, philanthropy, as a member of PEO, as a volunteer for such organizations as Meals on Wheels, UNICEF, and Toberman Neighborhood Center in San Pedro, CA, where she resided for 45 years. Above all, she was especially giving to her friends and family. Everyone loved her kind, gentle, loving spirit. Given her lifelong Christian service, there is a beauty in knowing that Muriel entered a new stage in her faith journey on Christmas Day.

Together with Jim, Muriel traveled the world and visited such faraway places as Iguazu Falls in Argentina, Alaskan fjords, the mountains of New Zealand, and the "Great Wall" of China. In their later years, summers were spent at Benedict's Bower near Gaylord, MI, where many of their family and friends joined them for hikes, fishing, canoe rides, wildlife viewing and fellowship.

Survivors include her children, Gerry (Nancy), Ruth (Gary Pine), Carol (Paul Ashin), Thom (Allison), ten grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, her brother-in-law, Ben Benedict, sisters-in-law, Mary Alice (Benedict) Grindol and Louise (Benedict) Lininger, as well as many nieces and nephews. Muriel was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, her son, George, her parents, Ralph and Mabel, and her sisters, Margaret Ebersole and Mary Helton.

A celebration of Muriel's life will be held on Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Madison, WI with a time of fellowship immediately following. Additional memorials for distant family and friends will take place at a later time in San Pedro, CA and at Benedict's Bower, where her remains will be scattered.

We would like to thank the staff of Oakwood Village for their kind and supportive care of Muriel over the past eight years. In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of the following organizations in Muriel's memory:

In San Pedro:
Toberman Neighborhood Center ( http://www.toberman.org/ )
Meals on Wheels ( http://www.sanpedromealsonwheels.org/make-a-donation )
San Pedro United Methodist Church ( http://umcsanpedro.org )

In Madison:
Pilgrim Center UCC Camp ( https://www.ucci.org/ )
Con Vivo ( http://www.convivomusicwithlife.org/ )

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434