Eileen M. Benoit

Eileen Maxine Benoit, 85, died peacefully in her home in Branford on June 7, 2023. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, Eileen was the daughter of the late Maxime Armand Benoit and Blanche (Berthiaume) Benoit. She was wife of the late Frederick Ensling, Jr., sister of Janice (Benoit) Fodero and sister-in-law of the late Severio (Bob) Fodero of Orange.

Eileen was blessed with an optimistic, can-do spirit and she channeled her energy into making life happen. Growing up in Athol, Massachusetts, Eileen viewed each day as an adventure, exploring the rural environment on her bike, swimming and orchestrating haywire schemes with neighborhood kids. At Athol High School, Eileen played clarinet in the band and was an Honor Roll student.  From a very young age, her parents told her she was going to college. Neither parent had high school educations, but they had a dream for their daughters. When the family moved to Hamden, Connecticut, Eileen transferred from UMass and entered Albertus Magnus College.  It was at Albertus that she developed a love of learning. After graduation, she taught in the Wallingford and North Branford School Systems, attending SCSU evenings and summers, earning a Master’s Degree in Education.

During a four year hiatus from teaching, Eileen served as an Adult Probation Officer in New Haven. It was there that she met Fred Ensling, who admired her positive, independent character and eventually become her husband.

Later, Eileen earned a 6^th year certificate in Guidance Counseling from Fairfield University, which defined her career. Except for the dissertation, she also completed requirements for a PhD in School Counseling at Fordham University.

Eileen joined the Guidance Department in the Meriden School System and it was there that her joyous and generous spirit flourished. She met two sisters, Kak and Joy, refugees from Laos. She embraced these young girls, and along with their older sister, Vankhkam, they became part of her family. She introduced them to American culture and traditions, helped Joy and Kak matriculate at Albertus, celebrated their marriages and cherished being “Grammy B.” to their children.

Family vacations in New England, New York and Canada introduced Eileen to the joy of travel, and became a lifelong avocation.  She said travel broadened her horizons and gave her an understanding of foreign people and cultures. One summer, she and her sister hosteled through nine Western European countries. The highlight was crossing “The Wall” into East Berlin. They chronicled their trip in a series of articles for the “New Haven Register.” Another summer, the sisters traveled with a study group, visiting countries in the Middle and Far East. With her husband, Eileen bicycled through Germany and Switzerland. Their other trips included trips to France, Italy, Morocco, Egypt, Mexico, Costa Rica, and sixteen States. In retirement, Eileen spent winter months in San Michel de Allende in Mexico and in Cuenca, Ecuador, learning Spanish and making new friends.

Eileen had an innate ability to connect with people, making them feel appreciated and valued. This was a gift she gave to everyone.  She empathized with personal stories and offered support and help. She loved bringing people together in camaraderie which, on a few occasions, evolved into marriages.

In retirement, Eileen’s resumed her interest in music. She learned to play cello and loved playing with Cheshire, Hamden, and the Nutmeg Orchestras. She said playing in these orchestras transported her into a realm of happiness and contentment.

Knitting and crocheting sweaters, afghans and scarfs was a favorite hobby. She knitted for family members, but when her output kept expanding, she gifted her handiwork to new babies, friends and acquaintances. She made numerous afghans for fundraising raffles to benefit Project Excel, a college scholarship program she co-founded for Meriden High School graduates. Other hobbies included crossword and Sudoku puzzles, reading, listening to NPR, FM Radio, watching programs on PBS, and attending movie discussions. During her final months, Eileen reminisced about the wonderful life she had and was grateful for all the people who shared her journey.

Survivors include: her step-children, Catherine (Steve) Langley, Barbara (Rick) Raucci, Eric Ensling (Betsy Young) and step-grandchildren, Emily Nolan, Ricky, Annie, Jeffrey and Paige Raucci, all of Milford; her Laotian family, Vankhkam (Mone) Lavarn, Kak/Kate (Larry) Nitirouth, Joy (Bob) Pocobello all of Wallingford, and grandchildren, Christina Lavarn of Wallingford, Andrew Nitirouth of NYC and Justin Nitirouth of Boston.

A celebration of Eileen’s life will be held on Saturday, June 17 at 10:00 am at Beecher & Bennett, 2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT.  Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery, North Haven. Her family wishes to thank her guardian angels, Ruth Schuchman and Sandy Toepel for their kind and caring friendship, Dr. Radner, her oncologist, and her Hospice caregivers. Contributions in her memory may be made to Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405, or Closer to Free (cancer research), YNHH, Smilow Cancer Hospital, Office of Development, 20 York Street, New Haven, CT 06510-3202 or to give online, visit www.givetoynhh.org/closertofree.