Charlotte Faye Benedetto, 98, of West Palm Beach, Florida, formerly of Ocala, Florida and Boca Raton, Florida, passed away suddenly on February 8, 2021 at the Joseph L. Morse Health Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. She was born on May 7, 1922, in Eldorado, Illinois and preceded in death by her father, Elvin Oldham, mother, Marian (nee Greene), first husband, Norman Schwarz, second husband, Rocco Benedetto, brother Charles Oldham, sister Mary Mathisen, daughter, Martha Schwarz Lumston Mattingly, grandson Christopher Shawger, grandson Raymond Lumsdom, niece Sue Mathisen Chiames, niece Dana Mathisen and nephew Harold Mathisen. She is survived by a brother, Gary Odendahl, son Norman Schwarz (Patricia), daughter Angela Shawger (Brian Hale), son John Benedetto (Gina) and son Joseph Benedetto (Carrie). She is also survived by six granddaughter's Andrea Rappe' (Timothy), Julie Goes, Karen Crones (Alan Phalin), Tammy Lumsdon, Adriana Benedetto DeFazio (Matthew) and Camille Benedetto. Also surviving are two nieces, Cathy Roark (Jerry), Julie Gaszak, and three nephews, Michael Mathisen, Robbie Mathisen (Kelly) and Jerry Casey (Esther). Three great nieces and five great nephews. Eight great-granddaughters, two great-grand sons and two great-great-granddaughters and one great-great-grandson.
Charlotte went to grammar school in Eldorado, Illinois and graduated from Hirch High School in Chicago. Shortly after her graduation she married a classmate, Norman Schwarz. She was a war time house wife raising two children. She later became a nursery school teacher and for several years worked with her mother at the same nursery school. She was active in the “VFW” and was a past commander of the Women's Auxiliary of VFW Post 866 in Chicago. She was heavily involved with the church which continued into her later years. When she married her second husband, Rocco Benedetto, she began raising a second family (a daughter and two sons) and moved to Boca Raton, Florida. Nursery school teaching was replaced with helping in the family pizza parlor and managing a self storage facility.
Charlotte enjoyed talking with and helping her neighbors. Her compassion and care for other people and animals was abundant, ensuring that all felt cared for and very special. At her apartment complex she would walk with and push the wheel chairs of friends much younger than she. In later years she helped with the cleaning in her church and enjoyed walking her neighbor's dog into her 90's. She enjoyed growing plants in the well lit front window of her home. She was always energetic and was proud that she only took one pill a day well into her nineties. As the years crept by, her strenuous activities were replaced by “Wheel of Fortune”, crossword puzzels, reading and Tuesday night “BINGO” games. All of which she'd enjoy around the clock if possible. Charlotte will be missed by her many friends and family.
A private memorial service will be planned at a later date.