MOUNT VERNON – Phyllis J. Benedetti, 89, of Mount Vernon, passed away on Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Mount Vernon. She was born on Dec. 27, 1932 in Hickory, N.C. and was the daughter of the late William H. and Marie A. (Verheyde) Duhling.
Phyllis was an extraordinarily accomplished woman. She earned her undergraduate degree in Mathematics and French from Lenoir-Rhyne University, and a Master of Mathematics degree from West Virginia State University. She was an early pioneer as a woman in STEM teaching mathematics while in graduate school and then moving to Columbus upon graduation to work as one of the first female computer programmers for North American Rockwell.
No mere brainiac, she was also an avid softball player with a wicked slow pitch curve ball. She participated in numerous leagues throughout her early adulthood into her 50’s. Once after pitching a no-hitter, she was delighted to hear an opposing teammate complain, “How did we lose to a pitcher with bifocals?” She was a deceptive competitor because she was such a tiny woman yet had incredibly strong arms - perhaps a result of her 50-year habit of mixing and kneading enough dough for 16 loaves of hearty whole wheat bread each week and serving it with her home churned butter.
In her free time, Phyllis liked to knit and sew and had a special talent for making custom designed stuffed animals. She won numerous blue ribbons for her creations at county fairs and craft shows.
She passed along to her children a love of Scrabble and taught them to not complain but “play the rack you have” – which for her was more than a game tactic, it was a life philosophy we will endeavor to keep alive as we honor her memory.
Phyllis is survived by her eight children, Ed (Beth) Benedetti, Frank Benedetti, Vincent (Jenny) Benedetti, Tony (Rena) Benedetti, Peggy Benedetti Andrews, Marie Benedetti, Will Benedetti and Sam Benedetti; ten grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Sally (Kim Waters) Duhling.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Paul Benedetti in 2015, a sister Mickey Hayes, and a brother Bill Duhling.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 14, at 12 p.m. at Snyder Funeral Home Lasater Chapel, 11337 Upper Gilchrist Road in Mount Vernon. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Private Burial will be in Skeen Cemetery.
To express a condolence to the family, please visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
