f/ Bette Brown

I am still in shock over Charlene’s death. I still can’t believe it. I’m sure many of her friends and family feel the same. She was gone so quickly. It seems so unfair that such a kind, generous fun person was taken from us so suddenly.

I’ve known Charlene for so long that I’ve lost track of exactly how long but it must be 15-20 years.
Charlene was the glue that held the Walnut Court people together. She was always there. If one needed food, drink, change or to borrow a bit until payday Charlene was always cheerfully accommodating. Many of us frequented the Benjamin Bank! If it weren’t for Charlene some of us would have starved!

She was always so thoughtful (as were the other Fo’ women). She’d bring us goodies and cards for all the holidays. Char and I would try to find funny animal cards for each other. She always so appreciated a good animal card!

I’ll miss our good morning waves and exchanges and the evening ones especially. Sometimes after a long day we’d talk about everything from the Monarchs and Kings to ice skating, animals and the “cabin” in So. Cal. Most of all I’ll miss her wonderful presence and infectious laugh.

Bette Brown

for (or from) Charlene

Remember all the times we had

Some were great and some were sad

But you know that in the end

Our love was stronger than when we began

No unforgiven sins and no regrets

Just the times of our lives that we’ll

Never forget

This is an excerpt from the song   ‘Ships of Heaven’ by Blackhawk.

I can’t be at the memorial, but I hope it is a rousing , laughing, crying good time. Char would have wanted it that way.

Judy

Charlene’s Memorial

The date is no longer tentative.  Charlene’s memorial (at least one of them) is scheduled for 1-4pm, 2/13/10, in Davis, at the Veteran’s Memorial building on 14th Street.  We are currently gathering donations of flowers, coffee, water, etc. from Charlene’s clients.  Please feel free to bring any snack type food, cookies, veggie platters, and the like.  We did not rent the kitchen so nothing that needs that kind of facility, please.  (There is power in the room for hot plates and such.)  I expect that alcoholic beverages are not in our rental contract so if compelled to imbibe, please be discreet.  Better yet, I would be happy to lead a caravan to a local bar after the memorial so we can do a group toast.

There are a couple of “scheduled” speakers but there will be time for anyone who wishes to offer a Charlene story.

Tracey

f/ Penny Worel

When Sheila gave me the news of Char’s passing at the Rose City Classic I sat with my mouth open, uncomprehending. I still can’t realize that she’s gone. Char, of course, would slap me on the back of the head and tell me to “get over it”. She has been in my life for 30 years and we shared so much over that time: Our dogs, my kids, our love of words, our deepest darkest secrets and our greatest joys. When her mother passed, my mother “adopted” her and she was always in Mom’s prayers. Mom always called her Charm and I think it fits. I remember in the late 90”s we took a writing class together. I had to drag her, kicking and screaming into that class. Her excuses ran from “people wouldn’t like her” (as if) to “I can’t write” and on. Of course, everyone did like her and boy, could she write! Her quirky wit, her calm rational thought process and her ability to make it simple came shining through and she was the star of the class!
I’m devastated that I wasn’t there to help and comfort her at the end, but she knew I loved her like a sister and always will.
Penny

Tentative Memorial Date

Plans are in the works to celebrate Charlene on 2/13/10, in Davis, CA.  Please note that this is a tentative date – we are still working on securing an indoor space.  I am posting this because so many of you have asked if and when a memorial is planned to assure you one is.  (As you may imagine, it has taken us all some time to adjust to her passing.)  As plans progress, I will post new information here.

Thank you for continuing to share you stories and love for Charlene.

Tracey

Excerpt f/ email f/ Debbie Voelker

Sami Jones, a close friend of Charlene’s, [and creator of this website] and I, will be putting together a memorial ad in honor of Charlene, with help from her friends in the sport, to be included in an upcoming issue of the Aussie Times, the official magazine of the Australian Shepherd Club of America.

Any monetary donations to help with the cost of this ad will be greatly appreciated.  If you would like to make a contribution for the ad, you can send it by check (payable to Debbie Voelker) to me at the address below, or to my PayPal account at woodnk9@softcom.net (please note no “e” in “wooden”, and all lower case letters).  If you make a contribution, please be sure to make a notation that it is for “Charlene’s Memorial Ad.”  Those who contribute will be mentioned in the ad under the heading “loved and missed by…. “.  Please let me know how you want your name to read, and include a kennel or business name if you have one, and your city and state, if you want that included as well.

The deadline for contributions is Feb. 10th, 2010.  Once all donations have been received, Sami and I will decide whether it will be a one or two page ad, color or black & white.  Any excess funds will be donated to ARPH (Aussie Rescue & Placement Helpline), in honor of  Charlene Benjamin.  You will also be notified as to what issue the ad will appear in, and we will send each contributor an email copy of the ad, if possible.

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you know who may be interested in helping out.

Charlene was loved by many.  She was a wonderful part of our world, and an asset to the Aussie world in particular.  We are honored to put this ad together in her memory.

f/ Aiden Worel

I hardly know what to say…

Auntie Charlie was truly like an aunt to me. Her goofy smiles and starbuckian lingo will always make me laugh. I remeber when I was a little girl, hanging out at fo paws thinking she was the coolest auntie in the world because she skated with Peggy flemming, and I wanted to ice skate just like her. Little did I know that it was her part sarcastic part charming all funny sense of humor, love for her friends and family and most importantly, the love that she had with her animals that made her the amazing person that so long ago I admired and wanted to emmulate.

My heart and prayers go to you and anyone that had the pleasure of meeting Charlene. The stars will shine brighter now that she’s gone

sincerely,
Aidan

Help Lisa w/ Charlene’s Memorial

Hello everyone. I’m going to be making a slide show and a collage of pictures of Charlene for the memorial, I have some, but I need more. If anyone has any recent ones of her, I would appreciate it. Old ones are fine as well. I don’t need a lot so 4 is enough, if you have a lot of pictures of her. My email address is MustangLisa05@yahoo.com, please email them to me or give them to my mother, Vicki at The Craft of Fo Paws. Thanks!

Ed. Note:  Please the four best pictures and most different you have, i.e. judging, grooming, at a party, etc.  If you have sent pictures to me, I will forward them to Lisa. – Tracey

f/ CA Sharp

Charlene was one of the finest human beings I have ever been privileged to know. I am honored that she was my friend. Her kindness and support for those around her were unsurpassed. Her marvelous wit and sense of humor cheered us all. While she was always willing to be a sounding board for us, she typically underplayed her own difficulties. In the 30-odd years I knew her I don’t think I ever heard a single whining word – perhaps an occasional flash of irritation (generally leavened with humor,) but never self-pity. She was an example to us all.

She was also “dog people,” which was how I came to know her. She had an excellent eye for a dog and her integrity as a breeder was beyond dispute. She willingly shared her knowledge with others. She spent countless hours volunteering at sometimes thankless tasks. If asked for an opinion, she gave it honestly whether good or bad, but she never delivered it in a manner that would sting. Her caring for dogs and their people extended far beyond the purebred show world to her Fo’ Paws clients and anyone else she met who had dogs or cats. While primarily a dog person, she loved cats as well.

If there is a heaven, animals must be there, too, and Charlene will be welcomed by not only her friends who have gone before but by scores of creatures who felt her gentle touch and caring spirit.

Good by, my kind, loving, funny friend. Those of us you’ve left behind have a hole in our hearts that will be hard to fill.

f/ Laraine

Charlene, you and my Barty had a special relationship. You got little kisses on your nose from him. He truly loved you. Now you and he can be together, as he was put down on 12/28. I will miss you for the great person you are. Willie will miss coming home with you on grooming nights.

Your friend and fellow animal lover.

Laraine