Obituary of Benjamin Lee Hall

Benjamin Lee Hall, 41, of Pearland, Texas, passed away Saturday, January 23, 2021 after a 3-year illness with cancer. Ben was a faith-filled father, husband, son, brother, uncle, and friend. Ben was born September 24, 1979 in Houston, Texas and was a lifelong Houstonian. He attended St. Michael’s Catholic School, St. Thomas High School, Texas A&M University for his undergraduate degree, and Texas State University, where he received a Master of Arts Degree in Professional Counseling. He practiced as an independent licensed psychotherapist which allowed him to use his gifts of compassion and empathy to help others. He was also a fan of all Houston sports teams and was particularly pleased to witness the Astros win the 2017 World Series just a few weeks after his diagnosis. A devout Catholic, Ben found peace in praying the rosary and encouraged others to do the same. He said that praying allowed his spirit to breathe and to listen to God, to feel like God was listening to him, to love God, to love others, to be comforted and to provide comfort. He prayed for the ability to trust in God, that God’s will be done, for his family, for others, for strength, for wisdom, and for God’s love to flood his heart. Family was everything to Ben. He enjoyed watching his children play sports, taking road trips with Rebecca and the children throughout Texas, and celebrating family reunions at the duck camp in Labelle. He said that marrying Rebecca was the best decision he ever made. With her, they formed a faith-first team that brought four beautiful children into the world. Ben always cherished time spent with his family. Writing songs and creating music with his friends was another passion of Ben’s. He first began to perform while in college at Texas A&M, playing at bars on Northgate in College Station. After returning to Houston, Ben and his friends formed a band called The Dragliners that played throughout the greater Houston area while he also performed solo shows and song swaps with other local musicians as a part of the Front Porch Society. Ben played with many talented musicians over the past 20+ years, many of whom he would call some of his closest friends, but his proudest musical moment was writing and recording the song “Blue Whale Stay” with Teresa and Matthew (as The Drip Castles) about their family trips to Bolivar Peninsula. Ben never referred to his illness as a “fight” or “battle” against cancer, but rather a journey or process his body was going through. After the diagnosis, Ben and Rebecca chose to focus on the moment and appreciate the time they were given. This allowed the family to create many cherished memories and fulfill some of Ben’s most desired goals. The Hall family is forever grateful for the love and support received from family and friends, and for all of Ben’s health care providers, especially the doctors, nurses, and staff at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Anyone who ever crossed paths with Ben will speak of his gregarious nature, positive outlook on life, obsession with chili and his unparalleled ability to laugh at his own jokes. Ben’s energy and contagious laugh could light up a room. He saw the good in everyone and had the ability to bring peace in times of stress. Ben will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Ben is survived by his wife of 14 years, Rebecca, their four children, Teresa, Matthew, Anabelle, and Thomas, his parents Frances and Greg Hall, brother, David Hall and wife Jamie, sister Katie Schexnayder and husband Nelson, his mother and father-in-law, Jeanne and Jim Fennell, brother-in-law Mark Fennell and wife Dana, sister-in-law Karen Spindle and husband Jordan, brother-in-law David Fennell and wife Nicole, and sister-in-law Katie Palumbo and husband Luke, along with numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a very good boy named Otto. There will be a Memorial Tribute online gathering for Benjamin on Thursday, January 28, 2021, beginning at 7:00 pm. To join and share stories, the link is to the left on this page. A private Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 am, on Friday, January, 29, 2021, for Benjamin’s family. The public is invited to attend the Mass online by clicking the link to the left on this page.