BENJAMIN, Lorraine S. (Jankowski) – of Flint, MI, age 87, was embraced by God’s loving arms on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1 PM Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 404 N. Dayton St., Davison, MI 48423; Rev. Fr. Andrew A. Czajkowski celebrant. Interment will take place following the Mass at St. John Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive visitors 4-7 PM Monday, December 9, 2024 at Allen Funeral Home, 9136 Davison Rd., Davison, MI 48423. A Rosary will be prayed at 5 PM on Monday. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the Mass on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church or Old Newsboys of Flint, in Lorraine’s memory.
Lorraine was born on May 11, 1937 in Flint, MI, the daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Knapp) Jankowski. She married Peter R. Benjamin on September 14, 1957 in Flint. Lorraine was a devoted, loving, and gentle daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. Lorraine knew no strangers. She was homeroom mother, Den Mother for the Cub Scouts and a Brownies Leader for her children. She owned and operated a Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio in Lapeer, MI. After selling her studio, she worked at Merle Norman Studio in Courtland Center for many years. Lorraine loved helping women feel more beautiful. She dedicated a great deal of time to being a “dance mom” to her granddaughters. Lorraine loved gardening, as well as her crafts of sewing and ceramics. She loved playing cards with her grandchildren. In her later years, she loved playing Wordscape and Word Search games on her Ipad. For those who knew Lorraine, knew she loved playing the slot machines at the casino, no matter her age.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Peter R. “Bob” Benjamin; children, Robert M. (Ann Marie) Benjamin, Paul J. (Catie) Benjamin, and Mary K. Benjamin-Swonger; grandchildren, Thomas R. (Haley) Richardson, Miranda L. Richardson, Tayler N. Richardson, Lauren M. Richardson, Rachel M. Benjamin, Tony R. Benjamin, Benjamin J. Swonger, Christian H. Swonger, Ethan S. Swonger, McKenna L. Swonger, Emily M. (Corey) Mathein, Rachel D. (Luke) Grant, Joeseph D. Merrick, Hannah G. Merrick and Claire C. Merrick; great-grandchildren, Levi, Tyson, Trayce, Julian and Scarlett; sister, Vivian Kielian; brother, Ed (Carole) Jankowski; sisters-in-law, Carol Jankowski and Janet Jankowski; godchildren, Kathy Gallagher, Keith Purzycki, Michael Benjamin, Suzanne Schafer, John Jankowski, Joe Henry, Christine Drinkwine, Dan Schmier, Sandy Dingel, and Chip Alexander. Lorraine was preceded in death by, daughter, Denise M. Richardson; sisters, Helen Sutkowi, Delores Benjamin and Audrey Henry; brothers, Bill and Art Jankowski; sisters-in-law, Agnes Gall, Mary Bagley, Selby Goad, and Elaine Benjamin; brothers-in-law, Steve and Dave Benjamin, Dave Abraham, John Kielian, and Bob Henry, and many nieces and nephews.