Published in the June 6, 2017 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Danielle Ashley Benedetto, 18, of Wakefield, was killed in a motor vehicle accident on Route 16 in Ossipee, New Hampshire on June 2.
She was the cherished daughter of Charles A. Benedetto of Wakefield and the late Alison Mavilia.
Born in Melrose on June 15, 1998, Danielle was a lifelong resident of Wakefield and was a 2016 graduate of Wakefield Memorial High School. She was a student at Emmanuel College in Boston, studying neuroscience along with working part time at Panera Bread in Lynnfield.
From a very young age Danielle had a zest for learning, always with a book in hand and a question to ask; she was very gifted and through hard work and dedication she earned High Honors throughout most of her schooling. The family always had a standing joke: “wondering where her brilliance came from,” unfortunately, none could take claim for it.
She deeply loved her family and was especially close to her older sister Ariana and her brother Chuck. As the youngest, Danielle would always be daddy’s little girl; thoughtful to a fault, calling him dozens of times a day to check on him.
She was an avid skater, and spent much of her free time at Burbank Arena and also enjoyed participating on the field hockey and lacrosse teams during her school years. Danielle treasured spending time with her large family, her cousins and friends, along with her beloved dog, “Wolfie” and cat, “Leo.”
Danielle was fortunate that she grew up in a neighborhood filled with family, but her beauty, kindness and friendship traveled far beyond the borders of her small neighborhood, affecting and bringing joy to so many. She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside, always with a smile and a kind word. She had a spirit and old soul reaching far beyond her young years and a light that will forever shine on in our lives.
In addition to her father, Danielle is survived by her sister Ariana A. Benedetto of Wakefield; her brother Charles A. Benedetto, Jr. of Wakefield; her grandmother Roberta Mavilia of Newburyport; her eight uncles John A. Benedetto and his wife Debra, Thomas R. Benedetto and his wife Pamela, Davy R. Benedetto, Mark N. Benedetto and his wife Brenda, all of Wakefield, Sante M. Benedetto of Middleton, Alfred P. Meuse and his wife Lynne of Freemont, New Hampshire, Michael Mavilia of Boston and Anthony Mavilia of Groton and her aunt Angela Mavilia of New York. She also leaves many cousins, friends, her cherished boyfriend Dominic Bruno and her beloved best friend Franchesca Montemurro both of Saugus. Danielle was predeceased by her grandparents Alfred P. “Gus” and Agnes C. (Meuse) Benedetto and Anthony Mavilia Jr.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at St. Florence Church, 47 Butler Ave., Wakefield at 12 noon followed by an interment at Forest Glade Cemetery in Wakefield.
Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
