Kathryn Joan Benak

Kathryn Joan Benak, a resident of Dothan, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 22, 2016 at a local hospital.  She was 84.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 26, 2016 at St. Columba Catholic Church with Father Patrick Maher and Father Johnny Celzo officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday evening from 4-6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 14 Pennsylvania Plaza, Suite 1710, New York, NY, 10122.

Mrs. Benak was born on August 10, 1932 in Omaha, Nebraska to Anton and Catherine Cherek.  She attended Immaculate Conception School and Church.  Later, she graduated from South High in Omaha.  After high school she met the love of her life, Ed Benak.  As a result of Ed being in the service, she and her growing family lived in various locations, ultimately settling in Dothan, AL in 1960.  As a busy wife and mother she was active as a volunteer in several community organizations, including PTA, the Dothan Service League, and her church, St. Columba Catholic Church. Kathryn adored her family and loved to pull them together for birthday parties & her big Christmas Eve family fellowship.  She remained active with her morning walks, and enjoyed gardening and cooking for her large family.  As a wise counsel to her family, "Mimi" will be dearly missed.

Mrs. Benak was preceded in death by her sisters, Delores Lloyd Martin, Evelyn Edward Machacek, and Eleanor Leonard Ulanowski.

Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Edward James Benak Sr.; her children, Ed Dottie Benak, Bob Beth Benak, Bill Belinda Benak, Steve Treva Benak, Linda Dennis Winnett, and Mike Jennifer Benak; her grandchildren, Matthew Hannah Benak, Kathleen Daniel Flickinger, Meghan Matt Brandt, Joseph Lauren Benak, Stephen Benak, Andrew Benak, Kyle Anna Benak, Kris Jessica Benak, Valerie Joey Trieb, Mallory Benak, Kaylee Reid Waldrip, Brynn Benak, Eryn Carlos Viscarra, Bryan Narineh Grucza, Michael Benak, Cara Benak, and Anna Kathryn Benak; her great-grandchildren, Emmy Viscarra, Elly Viscarra, Xander Grucza, Sam Waldrip, Grayson Benak, Emily Benak, and Kate Benak; her brothers, Mark Rosary Cherek and Tony Rita Cherek.