SR. CAROLINE BENKEN, CSJ
Sr. Caroline Benken
Sister Caroline Benken (94) passed away peacefully at Mount St. Joseph in Wheeling, WV on April 9, 2026. She was born Rita Mae Benken on May 1, 1931, the oldest daughter of Edward and Evelyn (Motz) Benken. She was preceded in death by her parents and four sisters, Rose Ann Benken, Jane Kaeser, Joyce Appleman and Mary Ann Mofford. She is survived by a sister, Caroline (Benken) Spahn; and three brothers, Edward, James & Richard Benken. Sister Caroline entered religious life in 1949 from St. John Fisher parish in Newtown, Ohio, and professed vows in 1954. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in education from Our Lady of Cincinnati College, a Master’s degree in education from Xavier University (Cincinnati), and a Master’s degree in theological studies from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. Sister Caroline taught in Catholic schools in the Cincinnati area for 28 years at Guardian Angels (Cincinnati) and St. Mary of the Woods (Russells Point) and served as both teacher and principal at St. Thomas More (Withamsville) and Immaculate Heart of Mary (Cincinnati).
After teaching, Sister Caroline joined St. Francis Xavier (Cincinnati) as a pastoral associate, a position she held for 18 years. She was then elected to congregational leadership and served on the leadership team for eight years until retiring from active ministry in 2007. She moved to the CSJ retirement center in Wheeling, West Virginia in 2019 where she remained active in prayer ministry and sisters’ outreach projects.
Sister Caroline had many creative interests including photography, liturgical dance and writing numerous published articles on spirituality. She was known for her gentle spirit, warm smile, keen intellect and devotion to her sisters and her family.
Family and friends will be received from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026, and from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at Mount St. Joseph, 137 Mount St. Joseph Road, Wheeling, WV. A Vigil service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday evening.
Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in the Mount St. Joseph Chapel. Both the Vigil service & the Funeral Liturgy will be live-streamed. Interment will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Wheeling, WV.
To offer condolences to the family, or to view the live-streamed services, please visit Sr. Caroline’s obituary page at www.altmeyer funeral homes.com