Obituary
Nona Louise Bennett
May 30, 1932 – March 17, 2022
Fort Myers – Nona Louise Bennett, age 89; passed away peacefully on the morning of March 17th, 2022. She was born on May 30th, 1932 in Washington D.C. to William Kenneth Mainwaring and Alta Louise Mainwaring. When Nona was a toddler; her family moved to Arlington, Virginia and they moved several years later to Bethesda, Maryland where she lived through her junior year at Chevy Chase High School. Nona finished her senior year at Ann Arbor High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan for two years and then went on to graduate from the former Hamilton Business College in Ann Arbor. While at the University of Michigan, she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority where she met – on a blind date – her future husband, Donald Charles Bennett. Upon graduation, Nona was employed at the Chrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Michigan. On November 5th, 1955 – Nona and Don were married in Ann Arbor, Michigan and they were happily married for fifty years. Two months after their wedding, Don was off to flight/navigator school as a commissioned officer in the US Air Force. Nona moved in with Don’s parents, Genevieve and Roland Bennett in Chicago, Illinois. Soon after completing training, Nona and Don moved to Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, Texas and then, one year later; March of 1957, on to Columbus Ohio – where Don served out his commission in the Air Force. Upon leaving the Service, Nona and Don moved back to Chicago, Illinois. They bought their first house and raised their three children in Clarendon Hills, Illinois where they resided for thirty-three years. Nona was very involved in the community of Clarendon Hills – volunteering as the President of Infant Welfare; the President of PTA at Walker School; a Cub Scout Den leader; and as a volunteer at the community polling place. Nona also served as a Deacon at the Community Presbyterian Church in Clarendon Hills. Vocationally – Nona worked for twenty years as an administrator for various auto leasing companies. In 1993, Nona and Don moved to Caloosa Yacht and Racquet Club in Fort Myers, Florida where they made and cherished many friends in the community. Nona quickly settled in and loved to participate in water aerobics, tennis and bike riding. She was a member of New Hope Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday School; was a Deacon; and became an active part of New Hope’s Stephen Ministry.
Nona is survived by her three children, Donald Bennett, Jr of Warrenville, IL; Sandra (John) Towers of Fort Myers, FL; and Janice (Kevin) Wolf of Sanibel, FL. She is further survived by eight grandchildren – Greg (Rachel) Bennett, Courtney (Grant) Hannah, Kathryn Towers, John (Emily) Towers, Jeffrey (Whitney) Wolf, Christopher (Christina) Wolf, Brian Wolf and Anna Wolf. Nona was also the great-grandmother of eight great-grandchildren: Hudson Hannah, Luke Hannah, August Hannah, Elias Hannah, Douglas Wolf, Piper Wolf, Bennett Wolf and Beatrix Wolf. Nona is survived by her brother, William (Lucy) Mainwaring and sister-in-law, Sheila Mainwaring.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; her parents William and Alta; and her brother John Mainwaring.
The family would like to thank the staff of Barkley Place and Amavida for the love and care they gave Nona in these last several years.
A memorial service will be held at New Hope Presbyterian Church at 10051 Plantation Road, Fort Myers, Florida 33966 on Saturday April 23, 2022, at 3:00pm followed by light refreshments. Memorials can be given to New Hope Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers, FL.
Nona was like a second mom to me growing up and was always so kind. I loved her smile. She will be missed but always remembered. ❤️
I grew up in the Bennett household and Nona was a second mom to me. I loved her and her beautiful smile. She will be missed but always remembered.