Rosemary Benson, 86, of Canton, Ohio, entered into eternal rest on August 24, 2026, peacefully, in the loving presence of her husband, Don. She was an artist, a musician, a wife, a collector, a lifelong Catholic, a businesswoman, a mother, a student, a grandmother, a devoted daughter, and a friend. She reveled in the company of others and had an abiding zest for life. If you ever met Rosemary, you know that she was not inclined to let anyone tell her how to live her life, and was someone you were not likely to forget.

Born on March 13, 1940, in Barberton, Ohio, Rosemary was the daughter of the late Paul and Helen (née Halas) Vincentin. She was first employed by her father at PV Auto Wrecking in Barberton, helping at the junkyard and working as a gas station attendant. After graduating from Our Lady of the Elms High School, she attended Wheeling College, where she earned a B.S. in Liberal Arts for Business in 1962. It was there that she met Don, beginning a 62-year marriage, a family of five children and twelve grandchildren, and a life rich in music, art, entertaining, strong opinions, and stories worth telling.

Rosemary married Don on May 9, 1964 at St. Augustine Church in Barberton. The early years of their marriage were a succession of new places, new jobs, and a growing family. As Don continued his medical training, Rosemary made each new city her own, working for her father again in Barberton, in the Personnel Department at Georgetown Hospital in Washington, D.C., and later as a secretary at McGee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. Their journey took them from Barberton to Texas, where Don, Jr. was born, back to Pittsburgh, where Paul and Jennifer joined the family, and eventually back to Ohio, where Timothy was born and where they adopted their son, Anthony.

How she loved things that grew! True to her name, she was a lover of flowers - growing them, receiving them, painting them, picking them and giving them away. She loved the peach trees on her farm and tending to her gardens and planting window boxes. She enjoyed leaving corn for the deer and watching the birds and squirrels fight over the bird seed. Mostly she loved watching her grandchildren grow, being a part of their lives however she could, and she was fiercely proud of her children.

Rosemary was a talented and prolific visual artist. She studied ceramics at Kent State and operated her own pottery studio in Canal Fulton for a number of years. She taught pottery and art classes at local schools and remained herself a lifelong student, always eager to learn a new technique or try a new medium. Over a 17-year span, she took more than 50 classes at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina, studying everything from coppersmithing and painting to pottery, quilting, ceramics, and knitting.

Shells collected on the beaches of Sanibel Island adorn countless homemade mirrors in the homes of family and friends. She always had one eye on the lookout for rocks suitable to paint with her grandchildren; the other eye was always on the hunt for fabric and yarn. Rosemary loved painting, and was able to paint one last time while in hospice. She made and gave away hundreds of quilts, and always had a soft spot in this regard for any expectant mother she encountered. Her children recall awesome homemade Halloween costumes, while her grandchildren, friends and strangers were never without freshly knitted hats, scarves and mittens. Creating was a fundamental part of who she was, and she had a particular delight in making things to give away.

Music was an important and enduring love throughout her life. Inspired by her father, she learned to play the harmonica from an early age. She also played hammered dulcimer and was a longtime student of the banjo. She enjoyed jam sessions at Quail Hollow and at the Campbell Folk School. Rosemary loved to sing, loved folk music of all kinds, and was a devoted fan of Kris Kristofferson. She enjoyed attending dances at the Akron Hungarian American Club. She may be best known for carrying a substantial supply of extra harmonicas with her at all times to outfit any child she encountered with the ability to make music. She was a firm believer that a few tunes on a harmonica would vastly improve any social situation. Crying baby? Harmonica. Waiting for dinner? Harmonica. Shopping for yarn? You know it – harmonica.

Rosemary loved entertaining people in her home. She especially loved to prepare for and hold holiday dinners with family and friends. Her commitment to feeding everyone in her orbit cannot be overstated. She was determined to make sure that you never left hungry, that even the fussiest grandchild had something they loved, that dessert was served with your meal, and that you had enough food for the trip home so you wouldn’t starve on the way. Rosemary was fond of saying “...food is love.”

In addition to her parents, Rosemary was predeceased by her son, Anthony, and her dear Tetka Magdalena “Monda” Filik. She is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, Dr. Don M. Benson, Sr.; their four children, Dr. Don (Laura) Benson, Jr. of Columbus, Ohio; Dr. Paul (Kate) Benson of Vestavia, Alabama; Dr. Jennifer (Ryan) Ryder of Black Hawk, South Dakota; and Timothy (Stephanie) Benson of Pembroke, New York; and their twelve treasured grandchildren: Evan (Avery), Christopher, and Leeanne Benson; Harold Benson; Liam, Gavin, Corey, Jill, and Colleen Ryder; and Mary, Timothy, and Eleanor Benson. She is also survived by her dear sister-in-law, Joan (Wayne) Lemasters; nephew, Brian (Denise) Lemasters; niece, Shelley (Jason) Hackett; cousin, David Furcsik; and dear friends, Brett Baker and Laura Schmidt.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Aultman Hospice and the Aultman Compassionate Care Center, as well as Danielle Rose at Helping Hands Senior Care, and everyone involved in her care over the past year. Thank you to everyone who reached out, came to visit and extended prayers on her behalf.

Family and friends will be received on Friday, August 28th from 6 to 8 pm at the Rossi Family Funeral Home and Saturday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, 10:00 am, at Christ the Servant Parish/ Our Lady of Peace Church with Rev. Fr. Daniel Finnerty, celebrant. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Akron.

Non nobis solum. AMDG.