Obituary of Lou Ann "Lou" (DeRiso) Benjamin

Lou Ann “Lou” (DeRiso) Benjamin of Davenport, Florida passed away on Friday, June 10, 2022. She was 66 years old.

   She was born on December 13, 1955, to Anthony and Estelle (Mauro) DeRiso in Teaneck, New Jersey. Lou Ann grew up in Cliffside Park, New Jersey and moved to Florida in December of 2017 from West New York, New Jersey. She was a member of Epiphany Roman Catholic Church in Cliffside Park, New Jersey.

     Lou Ann attended Cliffside Park High School. While there she started her vocational program to obtain her beautician license. During her career as a beautician she worked at Helen’s Beauty Salon in Fairview, New Jersey, as well as Glamour Beauty Salon in North Bergen, New Jersey. 

   In the late 1990’s she had a career move and became a teacher’s aide up until she moved to Florida in 2017.  She worked at Epiphany Elementary School, in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, St. Bridget/Resurrection Abbott School, as well as St. Nicholas School both in Jersey City, New Jersey. She loved to draw and work with children. During her time as a teacher’s aide, she began an arts and crafts program, which; as of today, is still an active program at the school. She also worked for many years at the summer camp program for the town of West New York, New Jersey. When she moved to Florida she semi-retired and worked part time at Walmart.

      Since moving to Florida her and her husband, Joe, enjoyed their time together by seeing new attractions. As annual members; they would go to Bok Towers, where she would read or draw landscape pictures. They were both avid country music lovers and would attend various concerts together. She loved relaxing at the pool with her husband and friends sipping on drinks and having a good time. She was involved with planning and attended numerous Edge Hill Community clubhouse events. On her downtime she developed a passion of gardening especially for succulents.

  She was known by many for her caring and comedic personality. Friends would say that she was always welcoming and made them feel like they were part of her family. Family was most important to her especially her two daughters; Kristin and Ashley, and her willingness to do anything for them.

   Lou Ann was predeceased by her parents, Anthony and Estelle DeRiso and sister, Lorraine DeRiso. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Joseph “Joe” Benjamin; daughters; Kristin Benjamin Solis and her husband Carlos Solis of Cliffside Park, New Jersey, Ashley Benjamin and her fiancé, John Cook of Bayonne, New Jersey; brother, Dr. Anthony DeRiso and his wife, Colette of Sandusky, OH; sister-in- law, Catherine “Cathy” Ferlisi (Benjamin) of New Jersey; nieces, Armelle, Noelle and Colette DeRiso and nephews, Anthony Joseph “AJ” DeRiso, Joseph “Joe” Ferlisi and Thomas “Thom”  Ferlisi and numerous other relatives. Lou Ann will be sadly missed by family and friends and lovingly remembered.

   Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Haines City, FL. A graveside service will be on Friday, June 17, 2022 at 12:30 p.m. at Rolling Hills Cemetery in Winter Haven, FL.