Benedict B Mione (1910 - 1966), Beautician, Keyport

Benedict B Mione, owner-operator of Ben's beauty shop in Keyport, thanked his customers for years of faithful patronage in the 2 Mar 1944 edition of The Matawan Journal as he announced the closing of his business on Saturday 11 March 1944 for the duration of the war. Mione had been drafted into the Second World War. "I hope that when my work for Uncle Sam is finished, that I may again be able to serve you."

Benedict was born on 3 May 1910 in Manhattan, New York, the son of Mr and Mrs Lorenzo Benedetto Mione. Lorenzo came from Italy in 1908 and was a presser in a pants shop in the 1910 Federal Census in Manhattan. Lorenzo was a shirt presser in later censuses. The 1910 census identified Lorenzo's wife as Colomba, and later records show his wife as Rose, Rose Mary, or Rosemarie.

Benedict moved to the Bayshore about 1934 and opened Vincent & Ben's Beauty Shop on Broad Street in Keyport with Vincent Geraldi, his wife, Lillian (Geraldi) Mione's brother. Benedict's eldest son is apparently the namesake of Vincent Geraldi. (See Benedict's son Laurence's birth announcement and some of this paragraph's details in the 15 Feb 1935 edition of The Matawan Journal.)

Benedict (born 1910) enlisted in the US Army as a private on 20 Apr 1944 at Fort Dix, NJ. His enlistment papers said he was a resident of Monmouth County, New Jersey, and his occupational category was provided as "barbers, beauticians and manicurists." He had one year of high school education.

Benedict (30 NY Italy Italy) was enumerated as head of household living in a rented property on Holmdel Road in Raritan, Monmouth Co, NJ in the 1940 Federal Census. He was a beautician with a beauty shop. His household included his wife, Lillian Mione (29 NY), and sons Laurence (5 NJ) and Vincent Mione (9/12 NJ).

Benedict served as commander of the Raritan Post of the American Legion. He was a third degree member of the Keyport Council of the Knights of Columbus.

Benedict died 6 Nov 1966 at Riverview Hospital in Red Bank, according to his obituary, which appeared in the 10 Nov 1966 edition of The Matawan Journal (Second Section, page 3 (page 17 of 22)). His funeral was conducted at St Benedict's Church in Hazlet, where he had attended for many years. He was buried at St Joseph's Cemetery in Keyport. He was survived by his wife, Lillian; two sons - Laurence V Mione in Neptune, and Vincent G Mione in Chestnut Hill, PA; brother, Leonard Mione in Brentwood, Long Island; and sister Rosalie Marino.


According to Find-a-Grave, Private Mione's war service is described on his gravestone as follows: Private, Company B, 55th Infantry, Training Battalion (PVT CO B 55 INF TRG BN).