On August 29, 2022, Susan Ariansen Benoit slipped quietly away at home with the grace and class that befitted the way she approached life. She had waged a courageous and tenacious ten plus year battle with cancer. She was born in Bridgeport, CT January 15, 1947 to the late Andrew L. and Katherine (Zygmant) Ariansen and was raised in Fairfield, CT. She is survived by her husband of 53 years P. Kevin Benoit, her two sons Eric P. Benoit, MD of Brookline, MA and Colin C. Benoit of San Francisco, her two grandchildren Eloise Benoit of San Francisco, CA and Remy Benoit of Brookline, MA, her brother Andrew (Skip) Ariansen of St. George, UT and two persons who had a very special place in her heart Kristi A. Patterson, RN of West Palm Beach, FL and Matthew T. Mendlik, MD, PhD of Gulph Mills, PA.
She received her BA in art at Emmanuel College, Boston, MA and was married to Kevin Benoit on August 16, 1969. She was an elementary school teacher for the first two years of their marriage before devoting herself to what she considered her most significant role in life; being a fulltime mother. In 1981 she and Kevin moved to Bath, OH where she was an active community volunteer as a member of several local organizations. She was also very active in the school systems that her children attended. When her sons went away to college, she cofounded an interior design firm Mill Run Interiors, Fairlawn, OH. She managed the enterprise very successfully until she and Kevin moved back east in 1999. They purchased an historic home in Duxbury, MA where she “became her own client” in directing the total renovation of the home both architecturally and aesthetically. She also returned to her love of painting and was recognized as an award-winning gallery artist for her works in both pastel and acrylic media.
She and Kevin enjoyed travel which began in 1971 when they spent a month traveling throughout Europe and in later years made many subsequent trips to European countries with friends and with their family. Susan particularly enjoyed the times when she visited her most favorite city Florence. They also enjoyed trips to several Latin American countries and to the Caribbean. She found special pleasure in the trips to Italy and France the entire family took during the four year remission of her disease.
Susan took great pride in being the consummate hostess, whether she was entertaining a few of her close friends or the annual Christmas party for the large number of invited guests for which she was so well known. She had a particular affinity for Christmas. She created family traditions that endured and took pride in her elaborate and eclectic decorations which she carefully collected over time with care.
She accompanied Kevin with some frequency to various annual international clinical research meetings and took pleasure in socializing with and making lasting friends with many of the notable participants.
To her many friends who loved her she was intelligent and a voracious reader, but much more. As one of her friends said she was the kind of friend you get once in a lifetime. She was compassionate and supportive and her sense of humor brought joy to everyone. She had the ability to draw people to her and to nurture those relationships. The grace she showed as she contended with her cancer was truly remarkable. She left a mark on this world that will not be forgotten. Her amazing works of art, her collection of antique treasures and her endearing spirit will live forever.
The family would like to encourage those who wish to make a tangible remembrance to please consider a donation in Susan’s name to: Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA and specify that the donation be directed to “The Susan Ariansen Benoit and Paul Kevin Benoit Fund for Ovarian Cancer Research”.