Cassandra Beninga

Cassandra (Cassie) Lee Beninga, age 47, of Topeka, Kansas passed away unexpectedly due to a medical condition on Monday, November 20, 2023, at her home in Topeka.

Cassie was born on August 2, 1976, in Manhattan, Kansas, the beloved daughter of Steven Thomas and Sandra Sue (Schwab) Beninga. 

Upon graduation from Shawnee Heights High School in Topeka, she enrolled in Emporia State University.  After a year she decided that college was not for her. She had completed the required training to become a Certified Nurse Aid and was employed by a nursing home while in high school and decided the health care field was better suited and more interesting to her.  She enrolled at Kaw Valley Vo-Tech (Washburn Institute of Technology) and received  her Associates Degree as a Surgical Technologist and completed the requirements to become Nationally Registered. Cassie started her career at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka in the operating room as a Surgical Technologist and worked there for six years. She then had the opportunity to move to the new Tallgrass Surgery Center and remained employed there since its first day opening in 2002. During the time Cassie was employed there she continued to receive training and accolades as a Surgical Technologist and completed the training to be a  Sterilization Specialist, meeting the requirements to be nationally registered as a Certified Central Service Technician (CCST).  She was always trying to be better at her job and pursued continuing education, obtaining multiple other certifications. 

When not working, she enjoyed family, her close group of friends, K-State football and basketball, and of course her cats, which she called her fur babies and were all rescues. She also shared the love for two dogs with her parents. 

One of Cassie’s passions in life was to make sure every abandoned cat and dog had a place to live and was taken care of.  She volunteered at Helping Hands Humane Society finding supplies for them and fostering kittens. There was only one failed foster kitten when she decided to adopt the kitten. She also volunteered on various community activities which included volunteering at Topeka Performing Art Center. 

Cassie is survived by her parents, Steve and Sandra (Susie) of Topeka, Kansas; two brothers, Christopher Beninga and wife Melanie of Austin, Texas and Jason Beninga of Topeka; one niece McKenna Beninga of Austin, Texas; three nephews, Mason Beninga of Austin Texas, Braiden Beninga of Topeka and Brenner Beninga of Topeka.  She loved her niece and nephews with all her heart and had special nicknames for each.  She is also survived by her aunt, Peggy Grater and husband Ron of Leonardville, along with many cousins in Kansas and Colorado.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents and two uncles.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 2914 SE Michigan Avenue, Topeka, Kansas.  There will be a visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. until service time.  Cremation will follow the funeral and a private family inurnment will be in the Riley Cemetery at a later date.

Cassie was always more comfortable in casual clothes wearing shorts or fashionable sweatpants and a sweatshirt or medical scrubs. She would want others to be comfortable as well and would not be offended by dressing casually or having something purple or Kansas State related worn.                                                 

"No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye, you were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why.”

Cassie will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for Helping Hands Humane Society in Topeka or SCARS (Second Chance Animal Refuge Society) in Auburn.  Contributions may be left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home.