F. Regena Benvenuti

Waterford — F. Regena Benvenuti, 96, of Waterford, passed away peacefully on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018.

She was born Aug. 22, 1921, in Valdosta, Ga., where she grew up with her parents, Wesley and Martha Frances Davis. Regena attended school in Georgia prior to meeting her lifelong love, Gotardo “Ben” Benvenuti, while he was on leave from the Army during World War II. They married soon after and moved to Connecticut in the 1940s. In 1950, they started and ran Benvenuti Oil Company from their home on Louise Street in Waterford. Their business included range fuel for stoves, heating oil, plumbing and emergency oil burner service to area homes. Regena handled the telephone, scheduling and bookkeeping from her kitchen/office while Ben worked day and night responding to customer needs. They were a team in marriage and business for decades. In the 1980s, they passed the family business to the next generation and retired so they could enjoy warm winters in sunny Naples, Fla.

Regena was highly active in retirement right up to her passing. She was busy seven days a week with friends, family, church and Waterford Senior Services. She was lovingly referred to as “the energizer bunny.” She was an avid reader, enjoyed senior bus trips, looked forward to her weekly breakfast with her friends from Flanders Baptist Church and most importantly spending time with family, especially Sunday night dinners. She kept her aide, Billie, on the go with her daily shopping trips. She also enjoyed sneaking treats to the dog from under the table, hiding cookies in her room for a late-night snack, slipping her great-grandchildren bags of candy before they went home and sitting in the sun admiring the view with a glass of wine filled with crushed ice.

Regena is survived by her daughter and son in-law, Deborah and Charlie Mazzella of Waterford; four grandchildren and their spouses, Michael and Jacklyn Mazzella of Niantic, Marc and Tara Mazzella of Waterford, Paul Mazzella of Groton and Patrick Mazzella of Niantic; four great-grandchildren, Niko, Casey, Max and Riley Mazzella; and her very well-fed dog, Finn.

She is predeceased by Gotardo, her loving husband of 59 years.

Visiting hours are from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Flanders Baptist Church in East Lyme.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.