Jimmye Louise (Lou) Lowenthal DiBenedetto died peacefully on Monday, December 29, 2025.  Jimmye Lou was born in Savannah, Georgia, on April 6, 1936, to the late Bernard P. and Mildred Lowenthal. She was a graduate of Savannah High School, Class of 1954, and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Elementary Education from Armstrong State College in 1984. She married Louie DiBenedetto on May 14, 1955. Together, they built a life of love, laughter, and care with their five daughters.

Lou was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Louie, her daughter Laurie Ann,  her brother, Bernard J. (Butch) Lowenthal, and her parents. She is survived by her daughters Dianne, Dawn Shay (Sam), Angela, and Tina Swisher (Mike), eleven grandchildren (Amber, Kelli, Damon, Olivia, John, Hope, Blair, Arielle, Clinton, Andre, and Diandra), and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews as well as her younger brother and sister, Pat Lowenthal and Stephanie Humphrey. 

She was a parishioner of St. Michael’s Catholic Church on Tybee Island, GA, for 39 years, and most recently, a parishioner of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church on Wilmington Island.  Lou was incredibly proud to receive the Bishop Gartland Service Award in 2017 for her service to St Michael’s parish.

Lou devoted her life to the service of others.  She was the leader of Girl Scout Troop 155 at St. James and enjoyed helping the girls earn their badges. She loved taking the troop camping!  She found her calling when she began teaching in 1971, beginning her career as a preschool teacher at the Hebrew Community School. Early on in her teaching career, Lou began serving the Diocese of Savannah as a kindergarten teacher at the Nativity of Our Lord School. From there, she worked as a teacher at Sacred Heart Interparochial School, Notre Dame Academy, Blessed Sacrament School, and St. Michael’s Catholic School.  Lou loved teaching kindergarten and thought it was absolutely the best grade to teach. After over thirty years of teaching, Lou retired and spent her time giving beach nature walks, supporting her parish of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, and enjoying time with Louie and her family.

Lou possessed a spirit of adventure, so much so that once her children were older, she decided to take on the Georgia Annual State Bike Event (GASBE) and the Bicycle Ride Across Georgia (BRAG), which surprised everyone!  Louie tagged along, as did her daughter Tina, her granddaughter Amber, and her son-in-law Mike.  Lou completed the ride multiple times!

Known as “Mrs. D” to her students, Lou leaves a legacy of children whose lives she has impacted as an educator.  She was the kindest human being and always went out of her way to lend a helping hand and to make others feel welcome.  She was dedicated to her family and loved to be on the beach at Tybee Island, surrounded by her friends and family.

A visitation will be held from 3:00 pm until 4:30 pm on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at the Fox & Weeks Islands Chapel. There will be a Rosary at the conclusion of the visitation. There will be a memorial mass at 10:00 am on Monday, January 5, 2026 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. The burial of the ashes will take place immediately following the service at the Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to Hospice Savannah Foundation: P.O. Box 13190, Savannah, GA 31416-0190 or Catholic Charities of South Georgia: PO Box 8703, Savannah, GA 31412.