Benadene Leone "Bennie" (Boerman) Duffin was born on February 10, 1938, in Loma Linda, Calif. and passed away on October 22, 2017, in Arroyo Grande, Calif. Bennie graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1956 and Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, Ca in 1960. In 1956 she was a part of the first coed graduating class at Cal Poly. The graduating class had approximately 200 women. For 26 years prior to her enrollment, Cal Poly was a men's only University. Bennie was a wonderful, loving wife, mother, mother-in- law and grandmother. She was a homemaker, teacher and also worked as a CNA and a rehab aid for the South County Convalescent Center. She loved to sing and was a member of her church's choir for many years. She was also a part of her High School and College's glee club and choir. She was a member of the Five Cities Christian Women and volunteered at the food pantry and at the San Luis Obispo County Historical Society as a museum docent. She also volunteered during election times working the polling station. She liked to crochet, read, do crossword puzzles and travel. Her favorite places to travel were to Canada, Europe and Yellowstone.

Mom was a Camp Fire girl when she was young. When my sister and I were young, we also were Blue Birds and Camp Fire girls. Mom loved helping out with our different Camp Fire girls troops and was my troop leader for one year. Mom kept up with her childhood troop and loved going to her Camp Fire girls reunions at Camp Natoma.

When her grandson, Andrew came along and blessed our family she was overjoyed! She loved Andrew and being a Grandma. Mom loved to read to Andrew every time he came to visit. His favorite book was "There was a Coyote who swallowed a flea". He would climb up in her lap and she would read it to him before bed. They both loved this time together. One time his favorite toy, a Woody doll from Toy Story, started coming apart at the seam on the back of it's head. Andrew asked Grandma to fix it for him and she did a great job (you could not even tell where it had been repaired). The joke was that Woody had a "splitting headache"! Grandma and Grandpa would take Andrew and go to the duck pond in Oceano, Ca. and feed the ducks and Grandma would then push Andrew on the swing in the nearby park. She really enjoyed Andrew's visits and visiting Andrew.

Our Mom was such a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother! She will always have a special place in out hearts! She taught us such wonderful things and set a great example for me, my dad, my siblings and her grandson. Graciousness, love, respect for others, giving, serving others, patience, kindness, warmth and generosity of spirit. She was a great person to be around and had great sense of humor! She will be forever LOVED, forever MISSED! I know we will be together again in paradise. Thank You for bringing us up to know our Lord and Savior and for the strong faith that you had and for the great example that you gave for your entire family! WE LOVE YOU, MOM!!! XOXOXO!!!

Benadene was born to Benjamin and Leona Boerman. She is predeceased by both of her parents and her brother-in-law, William (Bill) Perdew. She is survived by her loving husband, Richard; sons: Jim and Eric Duffin; daughters: Sharon Duffin and Susan (Mark) Gossman; and her grandson, Andrew Gossman. Also surviving are her sister, Connie Perdew; brother, Gary (Susan) Boerman; and many nieces and nephews and their families.

A Celebration of Life and Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 am, Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at the First United Methodist Church of Arroyo Grande, 275 N. Halcyon Rd., Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Mother-in-Laws' findagrave memorial number is 144320158. Link to Father-in-Law, Thomas Townsend Duffin, is there.