BENNILENE (Curry) PENNISI's Obituary
The world lost the presence of a sincere, kind-hearted Christian woman with exceptionally beautiful blue eyes, when Bennilene Pennisi exited this life on July 20, 2022. Bennilene was born to Bennie and Reather (Horn) Curry on August 8, 1929 in rural Levy County, near Chiefland. She had two sisters and a brother, but during her last 25 years she was the only remaining member of her family of origin. She also outlived her dear husband, Alfred (Freddie) Eugene Pennisi, Sr., deceased in 1993. Having experienced the reality that sudden, tragic losses are always possible, she cherished her family all the more deeply.
Bennilene Curry and Freddie Pennisi were married in 1952, the year of her graduation with high honors from U.F., with a degree in education and induction into Phi Kappa Phi honor society. She taught in Gainesville's Stephen Foster Elementary School throughout her 25-year career, fully enjoying teaching and loving her pupils. Yet her home life received her prime attention: she sewed all of her daughters' clothes and enjoyed finding delicious recipes to cook for her family. Her loving nature was an extension of her love for God as Father and her devotion to His Christian family on earth; she was an original, active, faithful member and a Sunday school teacher for many years in the congregation that was Campus Church of Christ, and now known as Campus View Church of Christ, where she will be greatly missed.
Evidence of her genuine Christian Character became obvious to all of Gainesville via local TV cameras on the day that her husband’s murderer was convicted: At the end of the trial, she requested and was given rare permission to speak to the guilty young man. In a hallway, with security officers nearby, she told him that she forgave him and hoped he would use his prison time to examine himself and choose to let Christ change his life.
Bennilene's survivors include her two daughters, Angie Middleton (Steve) of Gainesville, and Teresa Vaughn (Dave) of Tampa, FL; her son, Alfred “Eugene” Pennisi, Jr. (Bodie) of Atlanta, GA; 5 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and many long-time friends who treasured her inner and outward beauty.
A Celebration of Life will be held, Wednesday, August 3, 2022. at 10:00 a.m. at Campus View Church of Christ, burial will follow in Forest Meadows East Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday, August 2, 2022 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Downtown, 404 North Main Street.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bennilene's honor would be welcomed by Christian Family Services, 2720 SW 2nd Ave., Gainesville FL 32607.
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