Ann Beninger Yaar

Ann Beninger Yaar, 87, formerly of South Bend, Indiana passed away on Monday, December 11, 2017 in New Jersey.  Ann was born on December 6, 1930 in Ashville, Ohio to the late George Joseph Beninger and Cleva Rachel (Doyle) Beninger.

Ann grew up in Waverly, OH and graduated from Ohio State in 1953 with a teaching degree in Elementary Education. In between school, at the tender age of 19, she taught in a classroom with 3 grades and 50 children in the hills of Appalachia. She taught all over the USA and finally settled in South Bend, IN, where she taught at St. Matthew Catholic School for 18 years, before retiring in 1994.  She loved to travel. She was determined to see the world and continued to travel to exotic places well into her 70's.

Ann also taught the children of US oil company employees who were working in Venezuela and Colombia, South America.  In 1957 she met Antonio Yaar, a chemical engineer in Cali, Colombia.  Both of his parents were born in Bethlehem, Palestine, however they moved to South America in the early 1900's.  After a whirlwind romance, Ann and Tony were married June 9th, that same year in Cali.

She was preceded in death by her sons, Peter Ricardo ('65) and John Miguel Yaar ('86); by her husband, Antonio Yaar ('97) and her grandson, Neil Van De Putte ('15). She was also preceded by Metyn Olejnik ('11), who was a close companion for many years.  

Her surviving children are George Yaar, Victoria Yaar Marraccini (William Marraccini) and Yvonne Yaar Sharkey (Dennis Sharkey).  Ann is also survived by her sister, Jane Mohr, four grandchildren, Christina, Katherine, and Marie Marraccini; and Alyse Van De Putte. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Ann at 10:00 AM Friday, April 27, 2018 at St. Matthew Catholic Cathedral, 1701 Miami Street, South Bend, IN 46613.  Burial will take place at Riverview Cemetery, South Bend.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Neil Van De Putte Scholarship Fund.  The check should be written to:  DREW UNIVERSITY with "Neil Van De Putte Fund" written in the memo section.  Mail to the Attention of the Vice President-University Advancement, Drew University, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940; or donate to the St. Matthew Cathedral Bishop Crowley Education Fund, 1701 Miami Street, South Bend, IN 46613.

Palmer Funeral Home River Park Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.  Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

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