Joshua N. Benedict, 33, died at 6:55 a.m. Sunday, January 2, 2011, in Silver Oakes Nursing Home, New Castle, where he was a resident for the past 4 and 1/2 years, following an extended illness.

Joshua was born August 19, 1977 in New Castle a son of Harold Neil and Velenda Pennington Benedict.

He attended Mercer High School and the New Castle School of Trades.

Joshua was a cook and kitchen supervisor at The Crane Room for 5 years. He previously worked as a cook at a number of eating establishments, including The Wise Guys, New Castle; The Tara, Clark, PA; the Avalon Nursing Home, New Castle; and The Tavern in New Wilmington, PA. Joshua was a good athlete and enjoyed wrestling, golfing, swimming and tennis, as well as many other competetive sports.

Surviving are: his mother, Velenda Dumbroski, Phoenix, AZ; his father, Neil Benedict of Edinburg; a sister, Valysha Johnson and her husband Joel, New Castle; a brother, Michael Clayton Bigelow and his wife Rebecca, Phoenix, AZ; two nephews, Nicholas Gage Johnson and Joel Johnson, Jr.; a niece, Kyleigh Johnson, all New Castle; maternal grandparents, Melvin and Susan Pennington, Palmyra, PA; paternal grandmother, June Benedict, New Wilmington, PA; an aunt, Valorie Costanzo, Volant, PA; and his best friend, David Turner and his wife Doris, New Castle.

Joshua was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Glenda Pennington; his paternal grandfather, Harold Benedict; and a cousin, Christian Costanzo.

There are no calling hours.

Friends may email condolences by visiting www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.

Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. today, January 5, 2011, in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 111 W. Falls St., New Castle.