Born on Aug. 5, 1958, in Ipswich, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of Maurice and Diana (Beaulieu) Benjamin. Jackie spent much of her youth in Ipswich with her eight siblings and lifelong best friend, Mary Merry of Rowley, Massachusetts.
Jackie graduated from Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School in 1977, and went on to achieve an associate’s degree from Northshore Community College in 1980.
Joining the Navy in January 1981, she traveled as far as Oahu, Hawaii, where she married her former spouse Pasquale Milo, with whom she shares two children. After leaving the Navy, she held various positions as a banquet waitress. She and her family traveled, eventually settling in Sanford in 2002, where she became a real estate agent.
Jackie spent her last few years living comfortably with her companion Eugene “Butch” Drown in Saco.
Jackie was a carefree spirit with a loving heart and a contagious smile. Never afraid to say hello to a stranger, she formed many friendships on her life’s journey. The joy of Jackie’s life was her family, especially being a mother and a grandmother. She will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by many whose lives she touched.
She is survived by her children, Barbara Penney and her husband, Geoffrey, of Portland, and Benjamin Milo and his son, Owen, of Sanford,. She is also survived by her siblings, Lorraine Locy of Dover, New Hampshire, Robert Benjamin of North Potomac, Maryland, Barbara Dunn of Gloucester, Massachusetts, Norma Moffitt of Georgetown, Massachusetts, Lawrence Benjamin of Gloucester, Massachusetts, Thomas Benjamin of Enfield, New Hampshire, Donald Benjamin of Ipswich, Massachusetts, and Jeanne Rawson of Augusta, Georgia.
Jacqueline will be put to rest alongside her parents at a private graveside service for immediate family members in Ipswich, Massachusetts. The service will take place in late May when lilacs, her favorite flower, are in bloom.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton. Online condolence messages can be submitted at mainefuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, we suggest a gift to Hospice of Southern Maine. Gifts may be mailed to HSM at 180 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074 or made online at hospiceofsouthernmaine.org/give.
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