Monica Marie Benson, of Bethesda, MD, crossed the rainbow bridge on January 14th, 2026 after fighting stage 4 cancer for more than a year and a half. It should be noted that it was not the cancer that sent her on her next great journey. Instead, she was buried beneath an avalanche of yarn intended for use in various knitting projects caused when she opened her craft cabinet.

She was born in Washington, DC to unknown parents, and was adopted while still an infant by Col. George C. Benson and his wife, Barbara, at the insistence of her siblings. He spent her first few years in Indonesia, forming a bond with the country & the culture that would last her entire life. The family returned to the US several years later, settling in Bethesda, MD. Monica would later attend Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, MD before studying Art at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in Westminster, MD.

It was there that she met the non-cat love of her life, Frank N. Huminski, in 1989.Their first meeting was a subject of some good-natured debate between them as she claimed they first met when he nearly hit her in the head with a 2x4 in the scene shop of the theater, while he remembers their first meeting a few days later at the weekly meeting of the college gaming club, the Knights of the Sextagonal Table. After several years of friendship, they realized their mutual attraction and began the next phase of their relationship, culminating in their marriage in May of 1996 in Bethesda, MD.

Monica and Frank couldn’t wait to start a family of their own, and their children, Corvid B. Huminski and Frank G. Huminski meant the world to them. In turn, Corvid and Frank brought home numerous friends who came to look on Monica as a second mom, who in turn cared for her “adoptive” children, loving them as her own.

Monica had a soft spot for her furry & feathered friends, treating each and every one like the valuable family member they were. This love led to her career as a pet care professional, ranging from daily walks to extended pet and home care.

Everyone who knew Monica knew how much she loved reading, knitting, and any reality competition relating to music or dance. She could often be found on the couch knitting or reading while watching American Idol or Dancing With The Stars, extolling the virtues of her favorite performers. She enjoyed playing board games with family and friends as well, especially the Ticket to Ride series of games (also known to the kids as the "Scream At Mommy" game), Azul, & Sagrada. Role playing games (like Dungeons and Dragons and Pathfinder) brought additional joy to her life, as well as frustration to the person running the game when she pulled off some improbable plan that confounded the bad guys.   Monica was also an incredibly talented home baker, creating tasty treats for family and friends alike, specializing in cheesecakes that garnered the occasional offer of marriage from friends (especially over her Black Forest cheesecake)

We’ll always imagine hearing Monica say “Bap” whenever her husband made a pun or or one of his innuendo-filled comments one more time. We couldn’t have asked for a better sister, spouse, parent and friend, and will miss Monica every day. Her memory will live on in the hearts (and her baked goods in the waistline) of all those who loved her

Monica was preceded in death by her parents, Col. George C. Benson & Barbara J. Benson, as well as her brother William J “Duke” Benson. She is survived her sister, Bonnie, her brother, Richard, her spouse Frank, her children Corvid and Frank, her cat, Rodan, and numerous other young adults who came to look on her as “Mom”

A celebration of Monica’s life will be held on 14 March 2026. Please contact Frank at frank*huminski-=AT=-gmail $DOT$ com  In lieu of flowers, Monica has asked that you instead donate to one of the following organizations in her name:

The Trevor Project https://www.thetrevorproject.…

K9s For Warriors https://k9sforwarriors.org/

ACLU: https://action.aclu.org/give/…

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