Dr. Judith Benvenutti

aduated from Concord High School and continued her education in nursing at Greenfield Community College, and the University of Massachusetts. She received her Masters in Public Health and Tropical Medicine from Tulane University in New Orleans. Dr. Benvenutti received her PHD from the University of Southern Mississippi and satisfied PHD degree requirements in Andragogy, Educational Administration and Research and Statistics. Dr. Benvenutti held a Class AAAA Vocational License with the Mississippi Department of Education. She was extensively published and held numerous awards; Top Ten Women of Achievement Award, Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, Master Teacher Award, American Business Women Association Award, Who’s Who in American Nursing, and Student Nurse of the Year Award. Judith was an active member with the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC), and served on their national accreditation commission (NLN). She had been traveling as a site evaluator for NLN and working to advance nursing programs across the United States. She was former Director of Public Relations and Editor of Publications for the National Organization for Associate Degree Nursing in Washington, DC, and a member of the CEU Provider Approval Unit of American Nurses Association and Representative to the White House Conference of Aging. She was active in the local community and held the position of Past President of the Gulf Coast Continuing Education Consortium, and membership in the Governor’s Health Advisory Council, Mississippi Rural Health Coalition, Advisory Board for Respiratory Therapy Technicians, Advisory Board for Funeral Service Technology, Advisory Board for Pharmacist Technicians, State Advisory Board for Allied Health Programs, Chairperson for the Mississippi Chapter of the American Public Health Association and worked with the Gulf Coast Domestic Abuse Council. Dr. Benvenutti loved gardening, cooking, and her bridge club, mentoring students and contributing to her community. Her love of family; spending time and enjoying life with them both in Mississippi and New England were a major part of her life. She was a loving wife to Keith Benvenutti and proud mother of Erica Leigh Benvenutti currently attending medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson MS. Dr. Benvenutti was preceded in death by her father, Arthur Maltais of Concord, NH and her father- in law, Ernest (Ben) F. Benvenutti of Pass Christian, MS. She is survived by her mother, Virginia J. Maltais of Concord, NH, a brother, David Maltais and wife Elaine of Epsom, NH, two sisters Theresa Maltais Morrill of Northwood, NH and Gloria Maltais Zarotny of Waitsfield, VT, mother-in-law Dorothy Benvenutti of Pass Christian, MS, two sisters-in-law Michelle and Bill Deaton of Ocean Springs, MS, Jan and Brian Harper of Mooresville, NC, numerous beloved nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors. Visitation is from 5 pm until 7 pm on Sunday, March 25, 2007at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15452 O’Neal Road, Gulfport, MS, with a Rosary service at 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Dr. Benvenutti on Monday, March 26th at 11;00 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Menge Avenue in Pass Christian where friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until the service. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to Dr. Judith Benvenutti Memorial Scholarship Fund C/O MGCCC Alumni Foundation, P.O. Box 99, Perkinston, MS 39573. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.