In Loving Memory of Patricia “Pat” Bennett
August 8, 1946- June 15, 2025
Patricia “Pat” Rose Spinella Bennett, age 78, of Starkville, MS passed away Sunday, June 15th after a short illness.
Pat was born in Ohio to Carl Paul Spinella and Mary Myers Spinella. on August 8 1946 and was the youngest of four children. The family later moved to Huntsville, Alabama where Pat graduated High School and started her career.
Pat began working for IBM at Redstone Arsenal, who are known for their work with the NASA Space Program. While working at Brown Engineering she met and married her husband of 56 years, Roy Clifford Bennett, Jr. Pat remained working with them until moving to Starkville, MS in 1969. After moving to Starkville, she began working at LockPort Felt Company and was with them until 2000. She later worked for Mississippi State University in the Continuing Education Department until medically retiring in 2006.
Pat was a sincere and delightful person with a great sense of humor who would do anything she could for people. She loved nothing more than visiting the beach with her sister Carla and laughing at their adventures. Pat was a devoted member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church and attended Mass at Saint Joseph regularly until her stroke in 2005.
Pat was a loving mother to her three children and a wonderful grandmother, known as “Gram”, to her nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was an ever-present part of our lives who loved her family more than anything. There are no words to express how grateful and blessed we are to have been loved and cared for by her. We will miss her smiles and laughter every day.
Pat is preceded in death by her parents; sister Mary Richards, sister Carla Barnes, brother Charles Spinella and husband Roy, Jr.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Sandy (Scott) Simpson-Helms, Brian (Kim) Bennett and Cynthia (Todd) Martin, her grandchildren, Amber (Johnny) Beck, Curtis (Colette) Helms, Ashley Helms, Bates Bennett, Brody Bennett, Briggs Bennett, Emmett Martin, Avery Martin and Nolan Martin, plus her six great-grandchildren, Madelyn, John, Will, Elyza, Braylon and Denver. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Johnnie (Roy) Bennett, Eytol (Jerry) Alred, Patti (Jim) Armstrong and a host of nieces and nephews.
Services for Patricia Bennett will take place Monday, June 23rd at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 607 University Drive, Starkville, MS 39759. There will be a Rosary Service at 10am with Visitation at 10:30am and Funeral Service at 12pm. Then interment immediately following at Odd Fellows Cemetery on University Dr.
Pallbearers will be Shontezz Miller, Johnny Beck, Curtis Helms, Bates Bennett, Brody Bennett, Briggs Bennett, Emmett Martin, Avery Martin and Nolan Martin.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude and love to Patricia’s longtime caregiver, Angie Miller. Angie took amazing care of mom encouraging her when she needed it and always cheering her on. Her beautiful personality has endured her to us and her care for mom has made her part of our family. Angie’s presence brightened mom’s life in so many ways. We love you very much Angie and will always treasure your amazing love and care for our mother.
The family kindly requests any memorial donations be made to Saint Joseph’s Food Pantry or Saint Joseph Catholic Church, which was so dear to Pat.
