Janice M. Benz

Omaha, NE-Janice Mae (McCarty) Benz, 83, died Friday, January 21, 2022 in hospice care at Prairie Meadows Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Omaha.

Her Visitation and Rosary will be 7:00 PM on Friday, April 22, 2022 at St. Frances Cabrini Church, 1248 S. 10th Street, Omaha, NE 68108.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 23, 2022, 10:00 AM at St. Frances Cabrini Church.

Janice will be buried at her husband, SSgt. James E. Benz’s marker in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. James Benz died in a military plane crash on August 28, 1965; his body was not recovered.

Janice was born February 22, 1938, the daughter of Valentine Marnius (VM) and Frances (Gannon) McCarty, in Storm Lake, Iowa. She was the 10th of 13 children. She married James Edward Benz on August 27, 1960 in Omaha NE.

Janice raised her three children, Joe, Julie Ann, and Jane by herself after Jim died. She was a teacher, by nature and by profession. She taught 4th grade for the Council Bluffs School system for 40 years before retiring. Most of that time was spent at Bloomer Elementary.

She was active in her Church. Upon retirement, she enjoyed traveling to many regions of the United States and the world.

She is survived by her son Joseph Jerome (Amanda Lou) Benz, grandson Aaron Joseph Benz, granddaughter Abigail Sarah (Chancy) Rogers and great-granddaughters Elspeth Louise Rogers and Cricket James Rogers; daughter Julie Ann Benz, grandson Grant Calvin (Summitt) Baker great-grandchildren Briggs Calvin Baker and Border Lee Baker, granddaughter Catherine Marie Willprecht, great-grandchildren Julianne Olivia Baker, Payton Craig Willprecht, Addison Kristine Willprecht, and Calvin James Willprecht, and granddaughter Hannah Mae Barnes; and daughter Jane Frances (James) Fitz, granddaughter Rachel Deborah Fitz and grandson Jacob Paul Fitz.

She is survived by her sisters Rosemary (John) Salber, Yvonne Kopp, and Marilyn (Ron) Newman, and her brother Larry (Mary Kay) McCarty.

Janice was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Clifford (Marilyn) McCarty, Paul McCarty, Patrick McCarty, Daniel (Marla) McCarty, and Donald (Jean) McCarty, sisters Patricia (Raymond) Starman, Charlotte Meyer, and Ruth Adams, and granddaughter Elizabeth Katharina Fitz.