Marina Suan Bennight

Marina Suan Vios Bennight, 75, of Mineola, TX, died in Waco after a battle with pancreatic cancer on November 1st.

Marina was born in Lanipao lanao del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines, on June 18th, 1948, to Siriaco and Antonia Vios and was the sixth of eight children. She attended nursing school at Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City, Philippines and graduated in 1972. After graduating, she worked as an OR nurse in Iran, where she met her husband, Charles Bennight. After moving to Mineola, she worked as an RN at ETMC in Quitman, TX, for over 30 years before retiring. Marina was a devout catholic who loved to travel, cook, garden, and sing karaoke. She was a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo, with several state championships and a world championship title in 2009. She enjoyed spending time with friends and family and her three cats, Cornbread, Pretty, and Yeller.

Marina was preceded in death by her parents, Siriaco and Antonia Vios, siblings Gregorio, Praxides, Victoriano, Gabriel, Evangeline, Matthew, and Juan, as well as husband, Charles Bennight, and is survived by her two sons, Daniel Bennight and wife Maegan and Joseph Bennight and wife Sally, and grandchildren, Addison and Carter.

Rosary will be held Thursday, November 9th, at the Beaty Funeral home in Mineola, TX, at 6 pm, with visitation to follow. The funeral will be held Friday, November 10th, at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Mineola, TX, at 9 am. The graveside ceremony will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Mineola.

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