Pru Martha DeBenedictis

Pru Martha DeBenedictis (Pruglenda), 88, of Tallmadge, passed away on July 9, 2025. She was born on September 14, 1936 in Wilmington, NY to the late Glen and Cornelia "Helen" (Romang) Bacon.
For the first three years of Pru’s life, her mother battled tuberculosis while living in a sanitarium, and the two were only able to wave at each other through a window. Until her mother’s recovery, Pru was raised by her father and a kind neighbor, Mrs. Basford.

The family made their home in Lake Placid, New York, where Pru's father built a ski resort, which still stands. As a child, Pru took both skiing and ice skating lessons from Olympic champion and commentator, Dick Button.

After graduating from Lake Placid High School, Pru moved to Ohio to attend the College of Wooster. After graduation, she relocated to Akron to work as an assistant buyer at O'Neils’ Department Store. Through a friendship with co-worker Jennie Connell, she was introduced to Jennie's nephew, Patsy DeBenedictis. A romance blossomed and they married on June 4th, 1960

Patsy and Pru built a home in Tallmadge a short time later and their family grew to include two daughters, Lisa and Heather. While raising her daughters, Pru worked as an intake social worker at the Summit County Children's Home. Her work included helping some of the most neglected children in the community and she was passionate about it.
She also had a soft spot for animals, and was a frequent rescuer of dogs, cats, and more. She spent years applying for grants to support the Richardson Fund, of Tallmadge. She was a voracious reader and a tireless volunteer for the working class and Democratic Party. Pru was always busy, but her heart always belonged to her children and grandchildren. Doting on them was her favorite pastime.
In addition to her parents, Pru was preceded in death by her husband, Patsy DeBenedictis in 2019; and dear cousins, James Richard Blake of Ft. Worth, Texas and Earl G. Swain of Michigan.
Pru will be dearly missed by her daughters, Lisa DeBenedictis of Tallmadge, OH and Heather (Sam) Khalil of Parkland, FL; grandchildren, Emilia Winter Rowland (Ari Salzberg) and Dashiel Zane Rowland (Justine Karen), both of New York and Samuel Patrick Khalil and Charles Aiden Khalil of Florida. Pru was very close to Patsy's family and considered her sister-in-law, Mary Ann Killian to be her own sister. She also leaves a cherished niece, Mary Donnelly and numerous other nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Pru's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to One of a Kind Pets or The Cleveland Orchestra.

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