Gloria J. Benacci

It is with great sadness that the Benacci family formally announces the death of Ms. Gloria Benacci, 79, of Brackettville, TX, formerly of Laredo, TX, and many years before that Odessa, TX. Ms. Benacci was a beloved spouse, a mother, and inspired many others by returning to her studies after raising a family and becoming an educator. She specialized in Reading, Writing, English and Art, and taught at all levels, Elementary-through-Collegiate. Laid low by a massive stroke, and subsequent brain bleed after surgery, Ms. Benacci passed relatively peacefully in the company of family March 13, 2024. She is survived by her husband and 4 children, living on in their memories and the memories of so many whose lives she touched—changing forever with a love or appreciation for words and art. Ms. Benacci was the center of the family in many ways, doing her part to keep the marriage strong for 55 years. A strong and natural introvert, Ms. Benacci was known to display a sly sense of humor and was possessed of a towering sense of justice that could occasionally cause friction as she insisted upon what was fair. She loved animals, unable to turn away strays and rescues that somehow always seemed to turn up at her door, no matter where she resided, and filled her later years caring for these small and forgotten souls in her own quiet way. In her youth she was active and was known for bicycling all over Fort Clark, with her infant twin sons secured in bucket seats perched fore and aft over the tires. Others may remember her putting the family to work, turning the backyard into a miniature ranch, raising chickens, goats, sheep and rabbits. She enjoyed home improvement and was an amazing self-taught cook, moving seamlessly between cuisines and restrictive diets. Ms. Benacci delighted in giving the best advice she could to her close friends and family, hoping to help guide them through whatever troubles, and was known to drop everything to help in a crisis. A Funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, at 2024, 11:00 A.M at First United Methodist Church in Brackettville, Texas. A Graveside service will follow Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 11:15 A.M. at Fort Sam National Cemetery at Fort Sam Houston, where she will await her eventual reunion with her husband John. In lieu of flowers, the Family asks that well-wishers consider making donations to a literacy foundation of their choice, or to the Kinney County EMS service, in support of their efforts to preserve lives in the community.

Gloria J. Benacci

January 15, 1945 - March 13, 2024