Speakers announced for John Benoit’s funeral services
Funeral services for Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in La Quinta. A program for the services was released Monday to show who will be speaking at the ceremony.
The service will take place at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, located at 47225 Washington Street, beginning at 10 a.m. The service is expected to last two hours, according to county officials. Parking will not be available to the general public at St. Francis.
KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will be at the funeral services and will be streaming it live online for all who cannot be in attendance Tuesday morning.
Introductions will be made by:
Tom Kirk, Executive Director of the Coachella Valley Association of Government; John Plocher, a childhood friend of Benoit; Kay Hazen, friend; Guy Houston, Fellow Assembly Member; Buford Crites, Air Quality Consultant; Michelle DeArmond, Chief of Staff; Paul Benoit, Brother; Ameilia Hadley reading for Sarah Benoit, daughter and Ben Benoit, John’s son.
Due to limited parking and seating at St. Francis, parking and a satellite location to view the service will be available at Southwest Church in Indian Wells, located at 44175 Washington St., to accommodate everyone wishing to pay respect.
Beginning at 8 a.m. Tuesday, SunLine Transit Agency and Cardiff Limousine & Transportation will shuttle people to and from St. Francis for the service, until capacity at the parish is reached. When St. Francis is at full capacity, seating to watch the service will only be available at Southwest Church via the live feed from St. Francis, officials said in a news release.
You can also watch the funeral services live online Tuesday morning as well.
According to Michelle DeArmond, Benoit’s chief of staff, a letter drafted from Supervisor Benoit before he died was delivered to the Governor’s Office by Supervisor Tavilone on December 30th. The letter states Benoit’s wishes for who he wants to succeed him. Only a few people know the contents of the letter and his wishes, and the Governor’s office is not releasing that information at this time.
KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will deliver more information when the contents of the letter are made public.
