Lucile Bennett, 86, a longtime Chicago interior decorator, died of cancer Friday, Feb. 1, in her Vernon Hills home. Raised in Hyde Park, Mrs. Bennett graduated from Kenwood-Loring School for Girls, where she played basketball. She graduated from the University of Chicago in 1937 with a bachelor’s degree in humanities. She married her husband, Nathan, in 1938, and the couple had one child. While taking care of her family, Mrs. Bennett volunteered for organizations such as Chicago Woman’s Aid. After her daughter went to college, Mrs. Bennett turned her interest in home decorating into a business, opening Lucile Bennett Interiors in 1963. “She always felt living in a beautiful environment was important,” said her daughter, Diane Bennett Hammer. Mrs. Bennett would lead her clients expertly through the Merchandise Mart, mentally noting their tastes. She also was known for her attention to detail, her family said. She retired in 1993, after the death of her husband. In her free time, she enjoyed cooking, the visual arts and chatting about sports with her two grandchildren. Other survivors include a brother, Henry Huss. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at the Piser Chapel, 5206 N. Broadway, Chicago.
