MARY BENDER

It is with great sorrow that we say goodbye to our dear mother, Mary Gratia Bender.
Mary, affectionately known as “Mert,” was born in Fort Frances, Ont. on Aug. 31, 1931. Mary spent many of her early years in the Fort Frances, Mine Centre, Flanders, and Glenorchy area before moving to Crozier, Ont.
She married Stan Gustafson in 1949 and raised a family of four boys, Gary, Jim, Dale, and David.
Mary was a star employee, working at Sanitary Dry Cleaner, as well as Murray’s Music & Gift for many years. Here she excelled at sales, greeting, and dealing with the many customers she met at the store.
She shared a very special working relationship with the Murray family during her tenure with their company.
During her last few years with the Murrays, Mary met and married the second love of her life, Richard Bender.
Mary will be remembered as a very kind and affectionate mother, friend, and volunteer at the church and its many functions.
Mary is survived by her four sons, Gary (Jackie) of Nepean, Ont., Jim (Kym) of Winnipeg, Man., Dale (JoAnne) of Fort Frances, Ont., and David (Brenda) of Hinton, Alta.; seven grandchildren, Heidi, Nicholas, Maureen, Jillian, Sydney, Erin, and Brooke; and two great-grandchildren, Ciara and Aine.
Also surviving are three sisters, Norma Hagen, Noreen Barker, and Doreen (Frank) DeBenedet; brother, George Barrett; stepchildren, Bonnie Bender, Allan Bender, Terry (Debbie) Bender, and Tom Bender; step-grandchildren, Allison, Heather, and Holly; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, Donald and Isabelle Barrett; first husband, Stanley Gustafson; second husband, Richard Bender; brother, Don (Marg) Barrett; and sister, Ruth Gresko.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, with Fr. Wayne McIntosh officiating.
Friends may visit one hour prior to the service.
Cremation will take place, with a private family interment at a later date.
If friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the St. John’s Anglican Church Memorial Fund, 360 Church St., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 1G7 or the Alzheimer’s Society, P.O. Box 837, Kenora, Ont., P9N 4B5.
Online condolences may offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com