Southbridge: Norman L. Benoit, 78, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 12th, in the UMass Memorial Medical Center, University Campus, Worcester, after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia for 8 months.

He leaves his beloved wife of 57 years, Nancy C. (Salvatore) Benoit; his three sons, Aaron Benoit and his wife Erin of Somers, CT, Jonathan Benoit and his wife Amanda of Saco, ME and Michael Benoit of Southbridge; his three daughters, Tara Lataille of Southbridge, Angela R. Berthiaume and her husband Aaron of Holland and Aislynn Schultz and her husband Gregory of Petaluma, CA; his sister, Cynthia Parent and her husband Donald of Southbridge; his 13 grandchildren, Christopher Lataille, Joshua Berthiaume, Noah Berthiaume, Elizabeth Lataille, Abigail Bertiaume, Anthony Lataille, Amelia Benoit, Wyatt Benoit, Hutton Benoit, Noraa Benoit, Levi Benoit, Ophelia Schultz and Henry Schultz.; and 2 nephews, Randy and Christopher Parent, and 1 niece, Jenny Chouinard.  He was born in Lynn, the son of Pierre Leon Raymond Benoit and Olive T. (Fors) Benoit and was the grandson of Raymond and Cordelia Benoit.  He graduated from the former St. Mary's High School in Southbridge, and he went on to receive his associates degree from Worcester Junior College and attended Clark University.

Norman was an accounting engineer for Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford for 25 years before he moved on to a second career in food service.  The elderly residents of Quaboag on the Common Nursing Home in West Brookfield greatly benefited from this change in careers as Norman always added his personal touch to any of the food he prepared. He then moved on to the Head Start Program in Southbridge as head cook, which led to his last work as lead cook at the YMCA daycare off of Marcy Street for the past 18 years.  All of the staff and children greatly appreciated Mr. Norman, who shared  his love for cooking and the people he served.

He was a lifelong devoted member of St. Mary's Parish (now St. John Paul II Parish) in Southbridge and taught CCD at the parish.  He was a long-time member of the Detrianna council 199 of the Knights of Columbus in Southbridge.  Norman was active with the Boy Scout Troop 160 in Southbridge as an assistant Troop Leader and was a member of the Order of the Arrow with the Boy Scouts.  Norman also served on the Board of Directors of the Southbridge Pop Warner Football program.  Norman's personality, his laugh, and his love of sharing stories will be sorely missed by his family and with anyone who were lucky enough to know him.  He loved his family, especially his grandchildren, the Patriots, the Red Sox, coffee (and more coffee), classic cars, and magnets across the world that adorned his refrigerator (much to the chagrin of Nancy).  His legendary, signature dishes included American chop suey, chicken in mustard sauce, pasta salad, German potato salad, and meat stuffing with mushrooms, which were staples at all holidays and celebrations.

His funeral will be held on Thursday, Sept. 17th, from the Daniel T. Morrill Funeral Home, 130 Hamilton St., Southbridge, with a Mass at 10:00am in St. Mary's Church of the St. John Paul II Parish, 263 Hamilton St., Southbridge.  Burial will follow in the Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton.  Calling hours in the funeral home will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 16th, from 5:00 to 7:00pm.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to UMass Memorial - Cancer Center of Excellence.  Please click on link to donate - https://www.ummhealth.org/giving