Joanne B. Mason

Belmont, NY - Joanne B. Mason, 84, of 5121 State Route 244, passed away on July 18, 2016 at Highland Park Healthcare Center following a long illness. She was born March 28, 1932 in Belmont, the daughter of the late Lyle and Helen (Cartwright) Benjamin. On December 21, 1957 in Binghamton, she married S. Douglas Mason who predeceased her on January 30, 2004.

Joanne was a 1949 graduate of Belmont Central School, and went on to pursue a degree in elementary education from Baptist Bible Seminary and later received a master’s degree from State University of New York at Cortland. She taught school in the Binghamton area, where she met and married Doug. The couple relocated to Merritt Island, Florida, where Joanne taught at the Mila Elementary School for over 40 years, retiring in 1997. She was often remembered as their favorite teacher by several of her students. Joanne moved back to Belmont in the fall of 2006. She enjoyed music, playing the piano and organ, and she especially enjoyed her beloved dogs. She was an active member of the Belmont First Baptist Church.

She is survived by a brother, Richard L. Benjamin, a sister-in-law, Shirley Benjamin, a sister, Bernita Comstock, all of Belmont, and several nieces & nephews and their families.

She was predeceased in addition to her husband and parents by three sisters, Esther Hammond, Phyllis Benjamin and Elaine Jewell, one brother, Harold “Keith” Benjamin, two brothers-in-law, Kenneth Hammond and George Jewell and one sister-in-law, Betty Benjamin.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial service on Monday, July 25th at 3:00 pm at the Belmont First Baptist Church. A meal will follow the service. Burial will be in the Kattelville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to the SPCA Serving Allegany County. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.