Mary Elizabeth Benore

Mary Elizabeth Benore died Saturday of Alzheimers in the home she shared for the past 16 years with her daughter Beth and her son in law Benjamin Savino. Mary Beth was born on August 20, 1915 to Anna {McCullen) and Thomas I. Wilson. Her mother died in the flu epidemic of 1918 and she was reared by the McCullen, Wilson and Lawton familes. She boarded at the Ursuline Convent through her junior year, graduating from Scott High School in 1933. After graduation she moved to Detroit and began her retail career working at B.Siegel. After residing in Manhattan for a year, she returned to Toledo where she met her husband of 54 years Russell L. Benore and they married in 1940. In 1947 being an avid model railroader, Russell began a shop in the basement of their Boston Place home which was the genesis of Hobby Center Toys. Through her vision, she helped her husband develop the business into a 27 store, three state wide, successful chain lasting more than 50 years. The success of their business allowed them to become inveterate travelers, visiting more than 100 countries, culminating with 20 years of an annual vacation on the West Indian island of Nevis. One of her greatest joys was accompanying Russell on the 1976 bi-centential recreation of the 1907 Great Race from Istanbul to San Fransico. Driving a 1912 Abbott Detroit, they were announced as winners on NPR as they crossed the finish line on the Golden Gate Bridge. She was a member of the Inverness Club, the Toledo Club and the Toledo Opera Guild. Always proud to be 100% Irish: “I’m Irish you know, every drop of blood within me and divil a man can say a word agin me” was one of her favorite quips. Her desire to reconnect with her roots, led her and her family to travel to Ireland and find her McCullen/Wilson family. Always a gracious host and generous friend, she freely said “Caed Mile Failte”. A devoted and caring mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she is survived by her children Beth Savino (Benjamin), Charles J. (Shelley) Benore; grandchildren: Michael S. Maxson (special friend Sheila Phillips), Kimberly A. (John) Ertle, Charles Russell Benore, Monica A. Benore, Katheryn N. Benore; great grandchildren, Michael Cory Ertle, Colin T. Ertle, Ian J. Ertle, and Devon M. Ertle. Mary Beth is also survived by her devoted cousins Frederick F. Kellermeir, Ruth (Jason) McCullen-Zajac, brother in law Gerald Benore, and brothers John Wilson of Lake Park Ohio and Thomas Wilson of Bowling Green Ohio. Friends may visit at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S Reynolds Rd, on Monday December 6, 2010 from 4-8 p.m. where a scripture service will be held at 7:00 p.m. The family receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. Dec. 7th at Gesu Church followed by the mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be private. Any remembrances may be made to the Gesu Parish or Hospice of Northwest Ohio. A special thank you to her multitude of care givers, Barb, Betty, Doris, Doris, Madelyn, Valerie and to her hospice nurses, Jennifer Drees and aid Crystal. Her quality of life would have been greatly diminished without their care.

Mary Elizabeth Benore

August 20, 1915 - December 4, 2010