Carol Benevides

Carol A. Benevides, age 72, passed away on February 7, 2018.  She fought for more than six weeks in the Cardiac Care Unit of Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton after having a heart attack on Christmas Day.  Carol was born on December 22, 1945 to Donat and Theresa Roy in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.  She was the youngest of six children, her siblings being Irene (Clinton) Kelsall; Ron Roy; Edward (Phyllis) Roy; Eleanor (Art) Livingston; and Donat (Marlene) Roy.

Carol is lovingly remembered by her husband of 37 years – Louis “Benny” Benevides and her sons – Richard (Lynn) Colicci, Thomas (Meribeth) Colicci, and William Colicci.  She raised Christina Benevides from the age of 11, and also raised Sarah Faith Benevides as her own daughter, a special relationship.

She moved to Sebring in 1981 and married her high school sweetheart and “Angel Baby,” Benny.  The following year she became a special stepmother to Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Christina.  She later became grandmother to Rick Colicci, Kelsey Colicci, Katie Rose Noonen, and the light of her life, Sarah Faith Benevides.

Carol was a twice weekly “Bingo Queen” at Avon Park Bingo and especially loved her long weekend Bingo trips with her best friend, Kathleen Cowan.  She enjoyed having large dinners on both Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day with 25-30 family and friends, which she did for about 25 years.  Carol was a woman of body and soul and had many good friends.  She loved physical labor (one nickname she liked was “The Bull”).  Up until the last two years, she loved Caribbean cruises and Las Vegas trips annually.  She then spent much of her time and energy caring for Benny through five hospitalizations and numerous ailments.

A celebration of Life service will be led by Father Sean Mulcahy on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home.  The family would like to thank the staffs at E.M.S., Highlands Regional Medical Center, Dr. Ziwar Karabatak, Bay Flight Helicopter, and Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton for the excellent and professional care for Carol.  Friends may contribute in her memory to the Highlands County Humane Society, 7423 Haywood Taylor Blvd., Sebring, FL 33876.

Services entrusted to:

Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home

4001 Sebring Parkway

Sebring, FL 33870

Online condolences may be left at:

www.stephensonnelsonfh.com