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Phoenix, AZ
Amanda Jean (Dow) Beneteau, 44, passed away peacefully after a short
illness on January 31, 2026, surrounded by family and friends. She was
born on January 30, 1982, to David and Deborah (Nicholls) Dow.
Amanda was a devoted mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend whose
kindness and compassion touched countless lives. She was the loving
mother of her son, Caden, and daughter, Avery, who were the greatest
joys of her life. Amanda was most proud of her children and delighted
in watching them excel in school and sports. She could always be found
cheering on Caden from the stands of the baseball diamond and the
football field and supporting Avery from the sidelines at Saturday
soccer games.
Amanda graduated from Hancock High School in 2000 and went on to earn
her nursing degree from Northern Michigan University in 2005.
Following graduation, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she began
her nursing career.
Amanda dedicated more than 20 years of her life to caring for patients
at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, where she worked on the hematology and
stem cell transplant units. An Oncology Certified Nurse and Blood and
Marrow Transplant Certified Nurse, Amanda was the epitome of what it
means to be a nurse—selfless, compassionate, and deeply devoted to the
care of others. She often expressed how humbled she felt to work
alongside patients battling cancer, and she carried a heart of gold
into every room she entered.
Amanda is survived by her two precious children, Caden and Avery;
parents, David and Deborah Dow; her twin sister, Rebecca (John)
Ylitalo; her younger sister, Elizabeth (Daniel) Hillgartner; her niece
and nephews, Connor, Maya, and Tyler Ylitalo, and Nicholas and Calvin
Hillgartner; her aunts and uncles, James and Patricia Destrampe, Emily
Walikainen, Michael and Christine Stark; cousins, Laura, John, Erin
and Eric; father of her children, Jeff Beneteau; numerous in-laws in
Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; and her puppy Lola. She is also
survived by many extended family members, friends, and colleagues
whose lives were forever changed by her presence.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, William and Kathleen
Nicholls; Clyde and Barbara Dow; her two special uncles, Dennis
Walikainen and Stephen Nicholls; and her puppy Gracie.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the
exceptional critical care team at Mayo Clinic for their compassionate
care, as well as to Amanda’s dear friends Jaime and Sunny for their
unwavering love and support.
Amanda had a spitfire attitude in life. She walked fast, talked fast,
and loved to laugh. She loved easily and she was so easy to love.
Amanda’s family will miss her beyond measure and her absence leaves a
space that can never be filled.
A burial and celebration of life will take place in the summer of 2026
in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
In lieu of flowers, the family plans to establish a scholarship in
Amanda’s name through the Hancock Public Schools Foundation to support
future nurses, honoring her lifelong dedication to the profession.
Hancock Public Schools Foundation
501 Campus Drive
Hancock, MI 49930
To view Amanda’s obituary or to send condolences to the family, please
visit www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel is
assisting the family with the local arrangements.
Having been in radio for 37 years, Joel is just starting to figure it out. From the days of spinning 45 records to modern-day social media, Joel has a slippery grasp on how to entertain his morning show listeners. Born in St. Paul, MN, Alum of Boyceville High School, and well-traveled in radio from Iowa to Minneapolis and many places in-between. Reach Joel at [email protected].
