SEBRING, FL
Nancy Joanne Bennardo, age 83, entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the morning of Thursday, February 2, 2023, at HCA Florida Highlands Hospital in Sebring, Florida.
She was born August 9, 1939, in Columbus, Indiana to Wayne and Inez (Carmer) Flickinger. She graduated from Columbus High School, was a long-time member of Berean Bible Church, and was a founding member of Bible Church of Columbus.
She married Tom Bennardo in 1958, and over nearly 65 years of marriage lived a life of faithfulness to her Lord and to her family. She displayed compassion, sacrifice, and resolve for the causes she believed in. As a young bride, she followed her husband from small-town Indiana to New York City and navigated the intimidation of the big city with courage and savvy. Realizing her dream to return to her hometown to raise her family, she displayed unfailing support of her husband’s endeavors, entrepreneurship and industrious leadership, tenacity and perseverance, quiet servanthood, and generous hospitality?constantly hosting missionaries from overseas and always being among the first to volunteer at her church.
Mrs. Bennardo is survived by her husband Tom of Sebring, Florida, her sons Tom (Marcia) Bennardo of San Clemente, California and Mark Bennardo of Algonquin, Illinois, brothers Vincent (Janie) Flickinger, Marion (Paula) Flickinger, Richard (Hilda) Morgan, and Wayne Flickinger, sisters Linda Yoder, Edith Clark, Jessica Flack, Veronica (Jeff) Miller, Joyce (Steve) Greenhaw, Paula (Rob) Biondolino, and Samantha (Brent) Denny, sister-in-law (“like a sister”) Josephine Cristy, granddaughters Lauren (Joey) Apau, Lindsey Bennardo, Alyssa Bennardo, and Jenna Bennardo. A great-grandson is due in June of 2023.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Mickel Flickinger and Paul Morgan, Jr., sisters Nina Willoughby, Clydine Anderson, Della Ann Morgan, Sandy Engle, and Cynthia, sister-in-law (“like a sister”) Virginia, and daughter-in-law Tammy Bennardo.
Calling hours will be on Thursday, February 9, 2023 from 9-11 AM at the Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home, followed immediately at 11:00 AM by a celebration of life service. Burial will follow at Springer Cemetery in Bartholomew County. The Reverend Dave Marvin of Bible Church of Columbus will officiate the service.
