Obituary of Shirley H. Benson

Shirley H. Benson, 82, of Jamestown, NY passed away Monday, March 8th, 2021 in her home surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. A lifelong area resident, she was born on November 5, 1938 in Jamestown, NY, a daughter of the late C. Albert and Florence Grant Hagstrom. Shirley was a 1956 graduate of Jamestown High School. She worked for the Bank of Jamestown and for Dr. Herbert White Jr. as a dental assistant prior to beginning her true lifelong career as an outstanding homemaker, loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother. Her family was most important to her and brought her great joy. Shirley was an amazingly talented seamstress and crafter sharing the fruits of her labor with loved ones. She was the 'hostess with the mostest', always turning an ordinary gathering into a true event. Her home was always open to family and friends where they were greeted with a smile, a hug and lots of food. Shirley was an avid tennis player and enjoyed her stint as President of the Lemon League tennis group. She was a long-time member of the Tree of Life Lutheran Church in Jamestown. Surviving is her husband of 63 years, Barry Benson whom she married January 11, 1958; two daughters and their husbands, Kristy and John Zabrodsky and Tracy and Ted Bogdan; four grandchildren: Abigail Zabrodsky and her fiancé Ken Gilbert, Olivia Zabrodsky, William Bogdan and his fiancé Hannah Flynn, and Rebecca Bogdan; her sister Sandra (Robert) Christensen; her nieces and nephews: Deborah (Emil) Gunther, Darlene (Lee) Peterson, Marshall (Amy) Brugge, David Brugge, Scott (Elizabeth) Christensen, and Toby (Natalie) Christensen; as well as many great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her step-father, Roger S. Carlson; two sisters, Doreen Brugge and Marilyn Carlson; two brothers-in-law, Donald Brugge and Robert Carlson; and a great niece, Lindsey Peterson. Shirley's family would like to express their most heartfelt thanks to the wonderful staff of Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care who supported and guided them through this journey with empathy and compassion. In keeping with Shirley's wishes there will be a private family service. No visitation will be observed. Burial will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care, 20 West Fairmount Avenue, Lakewood, NY 14750; or the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring Street, Jamestown, NY 14701.