Obituary of Benedicta Donahue

Benedicta "Bene" Donahue, 84, of Boise, died Monday, July 18th at her home. A viewing will be held during the Vigil Service and also one hour prior to the funeral mass. The Vigil Service will be held on Sunday, July 24th at 7:30 p.m. at St. John's Catholic Cathedral. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, July 25th at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Cathedral. Bene was born at home in Boise on June 20, 1927 to Fermina Achabal and Lorenzo Garmendia. She was raised in Boise with her two sisters, Eloise and Ines. She attended St. Theresa's Academy in Boise, graduating in 1945. She then attended Boise Secretarial School and worked several years for Daly & Co. She met her future husband George Donahue of Challis, Idaho while the two were members of the Cabrini Club at St. John's. They were married on November 30th, 1957. Their eldest daughter Lisa was born in Boise in 1959 and the family moved to Butte, Montana shortly thereafter. They were then transferred to Great Falls, Montana where their son Tim was born in 1960 and their daughter Megan was born in 1962. Bene and George's life together was sadly cut short when George was killed in a car accident in 1963. Bene moved the family back to Boise where they were surrounded by the love and support of her mother, her sisters and their husbands Pat Bieter and Dan Murphy, George's brother Pat, his wife Patsy, and his sister Mary Jo. Bene returned to work as an administrative assistant at Boise State University. For more than 30 years she worked in several departments at the University but spent the majority of her career as a special assistant to the University president. She was proud of her work, proud to be a Bronco, and was deeply respected by her co workers, supervisors, and many friends. Every aspect of Bene's life was centered around her Catholic faith and her family. She lived and celebrated her faith daily. She supported, studied and questioned the Church and found inspiration in the teachings of Catholic scholars, priests she knew well, religious men and women of all faiths, members of the parish, her friends and family. She was a lifelong member of St. John's Cathedral where she was involved in many ministries. Bene's vocation was serving others. She reached out to anyone in need. For years she provided care to disabled and elderly members of the community. She opened her home and her heart to family, friends, priests, nuns, seminarians, college students, exchange students and foreign visitors. All she expected in return was that they share a meal - or two - and save room for dessert and take an "Amuma Bag" with them when they left. She lived by the Basque saying "Gure etxera datorrena bere etxean dago - whoever comes to our house is at home." Bene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband George, and her sisters Eloise and Ines. She is survived by: her daughter Lisa and husband Richard Manthey and their children Ruth, Clare, Grace, and Jeanne; son Tim and wife Jill Solberg Donahue and their children Ben and Molly; daughter Megan and husband Wil Overgaard and their children Elise, Mikel, Willie, and Ana. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews: the Bieter's, Chris, Mary, Dave, John and Mark; the Murphy's, Diane, Connie, Pete, Kathy and Eileen; the Donahue's, Kathy and Erin; the Emmingham's Pat and Julie and all of their families who she considered "my kids too". The family suggests remembrances to: The Basque Museum and Cultural Center 611 W. Grove St, Boise, ID 83702, St. Gertrude's Monastery, 465 Keuterville Road, Cottonwood, ID 83522, or Corpus Christi House, 525 Americana Blvd., Boise, ID 83702.