ILION - Mrs. Virginia Nellie Bennett, age 99, of Ilion, fell asleep peacefully in her home on Monday, June 27, 2022. She was born on December 23, 1922, in Ilion, a daughter of the late Stanley and Nellie (Glines) Blaisdell. On December 28, 1940, Virginia was joined in marriage to Robert Bennett, in Syracuse, a loving union of nearly 64 years. Virginia attended local schools and after worked for Univac and Remington Arms while raising her family. She was an enthusiastic pinochle player being in a card club for more than 50 years. Virginia loved to sew and quilt and share her work at many local craft shows. Her and her husband, Robert, also had a “cotton candy” stand at local events where her grandchildren loved to work with them. She was also an avid New York Yankee’s fan. Virginia was an amazing woman. She was a loving, caring and devoted mother and grandmother. After raising her own children, she helped raise many of her grandchildren. Family and friends were everything, she opened her home to all. She truly had a heart of gold and touched so many lives. She was a woman many people looked up to. She was the light of our life and the Matriarch of the Bennett family. She was very wise and always had the time to listen and always had the best advice to give. She enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s sporting events and even in her 90’s she was attending musicals, events and graduations for her great- grandchildren. She was so special and we all have so many amazing memories with her. In April, 2008, Virginia was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Virginia loved her congregation and her spiritual family. She is survived by her children: Jeanne Ganey, of Ilion, Raymond Bennett and his wife, Sandy, of Schuyler, Sharon Carlesimo and her husband, Peter, of Frankfort, Kathy Gardner and her husband, John, of Old Forge, Liz Bennett (daughter-in-law), of Herkimer; 17 Grandchildren: Cookie Ganey (Michelle Trey), Gina Carlesimo (Bill Flinchum), Peter Carlesimo (Michelle), William Ganey, Jr. (Courtney Foti), Roxanne Gillen (Nelson), John Gardner (Michelle), Julie Stoner (Gehrig Putney), Stephen Carlesimo (Siobhan Nelson), Kurt Gardner (Ximena), Brian Bennett (Hope), Jodi Ganey, Heather Eberle (Aaron Pratt), Chad Gardner (Jill Gibson), Leigh Parks-Brewer (John), Deanna Williams (Jay), Brooke Palumbo (Matthew) and Nicole Bennett (Brandon Macera); 29 Great- grandchildren: Allison Ganey (Caleb Kotwica), Bradley Horst (Celine Carr), Mitchell Horst, Jenna Carlesimo, Ashlee Hoffman (Jonathan), Peter Carlesimo, Andrew Gillen, Aaron Gillen, Jarred Gillen, John Matthew Gardner, Morgan Gardner, Carlie Stoner (Jacob Wood), Allie Stoner (EJ Miller), Kyle Stoner, Andrew Gardner (Lissy), Kaitlyn Gardner, Ben Gardner, Grey Gardner, Jonathan Eberle, Abigail Eberle (Justin Weaver), Aaden Pratt, Jack Gardner, Parker Gardner, Ryan Parks, Paisley Williams, Colton Williams, Blake Palumbo, Levi Palumbo and Molly Carlesimo; 1 Great-great- grandchild, Liam Hoffman; special friends: Carol Cusworth and family, Sammy Nesbitt, Skyler Wilkinson, Helen Eckstram, Leona Covey and many others; and several nieces and nephews. Virginia was predeceased by her husband Robert S. Bennett; her children: Bertha Bennett, Robert H. Bennett and Earle Bennett; her parents, Stanley and Nellie Blaisdell; and her sister, Ruth Blaisdell. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 585 Trenton Road, Utica, NY. Family is invited to attend a Graveside Memorial Service, on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., at the Armory Hill Cemetery, in Ilion, NY. Family and Friends are welcome to join the Celebration of Life following the services at 11:00 a.m., at the St. Francis Society, in Frankfort, New York. All funeral arrangements for Virginia have been entrusted to the Enea & Ciaccia Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Rd., Ilion (Town of Frankfort), Funeral Directors Harry J. Enea, Jr., Kevin E. Enea and Martin L. Ciaccia (315-894-8000).