Pilar Alonso Benito, 97, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 13, 2021, at St. Lukes Luthern Home, N. Canton, Ohio. Pilar was born on June 1, 1924 in Rome, NY, daughter of the late Jose and Germana Perfueta Alonso. She attended Columbus School and graduated from Rome Free Academy in 1942. In May 1956 she married Ernest Garafalo and lived in Ojai, California where she worked for the Bank of America. Upon the passing of her husband, Pilar returned to Rome, NY and worked at the Rome Sentinel Co., in the classified department. She later married Santiago Benito and moved to North Canton, Ohio, where Pilar worked as secretary to the Dean at Walsh College. Pilar enjoyed traveling and visited Cuba, Spain and South America and had a strong appreciation for her Spanish heritage.

Pilar is survived by a beloved niece, Pamela D'Amore Landau and her husband Michael Landau and God-daughter, Sharyn (Ray "Socks") Bouton. She was predeceased by her parents, husband Santiago, her beloved sister, Nieves Alonso D'Amore and brother-in-law, Stephen D'Amore, a nephew, Stephen D'Amore, Jr., and two sisters, Clementina and Louisa who passed away in early childhood when the family lived in New Jersey, and her Aunt Soledad Perfueta Godes.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Lutheran Home in Canton, Ohio, and the staff at Crossroads Hospice Care in Green, Ohio.

Graveside Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Friday, September 17, 2021, at St. John the Baptist Cemetery with the Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio officiating, where friends are invited to attend.

Memorial contributions may be made in Pilar's name to: Crossroads Hospice and Palliative Care, 3743 Boettler Oaks Dr., Suite E, Green Ohio 44685.

Arrangements are by the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 7751 Merrick Rd. Rome.

To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com