Elaine Benjamin passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, North Carolina. She was 75.
Elaine was born in Brooklyn, New York, to parents Peggy Lomm and Richard Riech. She attended Pratt Institute of Art and Design in New York City. Her lifelong passions included art and travel. Both were widely enjoyed throughout her lifetime, including extensive travels throughout Europe and the Middle East including a years-long expat stay in Israel with her two boys during their childhood years. She engaged in a wide range of medium for her artwork, producing countless beautiful works including drawings, mosaics, paintings, clay sculptures and stained glass, which she and Ivan enjoyed doing together. Elaine’s love of art inspired many of her loved ones to discover a form of art to express their own creativity. She had recently retired as a certified professional coder in the health care field, which she pursued for over 30 years.
Elaine is survived by her husband Ivan Benjamin; children Brandon Tankleff and his wife Courtney, Matthew Tankleff, and Josh Benjamin and his fiancé Rosie; stepchild, Nicole Butler and her husband Rob; second mother to Brooke Fleischauer. She is also survived by her grandchildren Joshua Tankleff, Hayden Tankleff; step-grandchildren, Owen Butler, Lily Butler; first cousins, Roberta Sackstein and Audrey Samples and her husband Michael. She dearly loved her large extended family.
Elaine’s celebration of life service will be held at Jackson Funeral Service, 1101 Greenville Hwy, Hendersonville, NC, 28792 on Sunday, January 9, 2023 at 11:00 AM.
In honor of Elaine’s love of animals, memorial gifts in the form of contribution can be made to Sister Kitten Animal Rescue. https://www.sisterkitten.org/
The family has entrusted Jackson Funeral Service with the arrangements.