Catherine Selene Benitone's Obituary
Catherine Selene Benitone, 37, of Washington, D.C. was promoted to heaven on June 12, 2011 at The Washington Home after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born in Memphis, TN on August 27, 1973 to Mr. T.W. Jones, Jr. and Mrs. Janis Cox Jones, Selene attended Grace St. Luke’s Episcopal School, Briarcrest Christian School, and was a graduate of the University of Memphis. She caught the attention of a young man in the eighth grade, who, after an endearing friendship, would later become her husband, Lt. Col. Trevor Banks Benitone (USAF) on June 12, 1999. It is no surprise to her family and friends that Selene was determined to see her 12th anniversary as Trevor was the love of her life. Ever proud and supportive of her husband’s career, Selene followed Trevor as he faithfully served his country in Destin, FL, Okinawa, Japan, where their two children were born, Albuquerque, NM, Memphis, TN, and Washington, DC, where Trevor currently serves the Under Secretary of Defense at The Pentagon. Selene was diagnosed with small cell cancer of the lung in September 2006. Wanting to explain to her children what she would be fighting, she could not find any adequate resources. With the same courage and tenacity for which her family and friends deeply loved her, she authored My Mommy Without Hair: My World Turned Upside Down. Selene’s book explains cancer to children in a non-threatening manner and in a way that only a loving mother can. Her work and her life have touched and inspired countless families engaging the same fight. Selene was a passionate, caring lady who was never without a smile and a host of friends. Selene’s favorite passage from the Bible was Psalm 25:4-12: “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. 6 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good. 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. 11 For the sake of your name, LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. 12 Who, then, are those who fear the LORD? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.” Selene is survived by her husband, Lt. Col. Trevor Banks Benitone (USAF) of Washington, D.C., her children, Coleman Thomas Callaway of Memphis, TN, Worthington Banks Benitone and Ella Catherine Benitone of Washington, D.C., her parents, Mr. T.W. Jones, Jr. of Memphis, TN and Mrs. Janis Cox Jones of Oxford, MS, her brother, Worth Jones of Memphis, TN, and an abundance of extended family and friendships. Visitation will be held Saturday, June 18, 2011 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119. The Funeral Service will be performed Sunday, June 19, 2011 at 2:00pm in the Sanctuary of Second Presbyterian Church, 4055 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111 with committal immediately following the service at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Donations in Selene’s honor may be sent to (1) The Catherine Selene Benitone Memorial Scholarship Fund, St. Peter School, 422 3rd Street S.E., Washington, DC 2003, (2) The Wings Cancer Foundation, 100 N Humphreys Blvd, Memphis, TN 38120, or (3) a charity of the donor’s choosing.
What’s your fondest memory of Catherine?
What’s a lesson you learned from Catherine?
Share a story where Catherine's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Catherine you’ll never forget.
How did Catherine make you smile?