Lucille Bender

Lucille I. Bender, 82, of Monroe, passed away at 3:00 AM, Sunday, August 5, 2007, in the Mercy Memorial Hospital, Monroe, where she had been for 2 weeks. She was born January 20, 1925 in Monroe, MI to John and Josephine (Kondracki) Swiderski. A lifetime resident of Monroe, she attended St. Michael’s grade school and was a 1942 graduate of Monroe High School. On November 10, 1948, she married William G. Bender at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. Sadly, he preceded her in death June 4, 1986. A homemaker, she was a former member of the Monroe Thrift Shop, Mercy Memorial Hospital Guild, Monroe County Extension Club, Monroe Townsite Garden Club, a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, and attended Monroe County Community College. Lucille appreciated the compassion given to her by her caregiver, Timothy Bolicki, and her gerontologist, Dr. Oscar Linares. She enjoyed the friendships she shared with her lifelong friend and sister-in-law, Marris Manausso of Monroe, her loving niece, Nancy Bender Cole of Monroe, longtime friend, Harriett Kearney of Pompano Beach, FL, dear friend, Dr. Paulette Moulton of Monroe, and loyal friend, Mrs. Rosie Clock Harmon of Monroe. Lucille found many new and old friends at her home of the last year, Tendercare of Monroe. There, she formed special relationships with many of the fine Tendercare staff. Lucille loved learning about her Polish heritage, especially the culture, music, and food. She enjoyed traveling to Europe, the Holy Land, the Caribbean, the Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, Canada, and throughout the United States. Lucille is survived by 5 children and 8 grandchildren: son, Robert Bender, and his wife, Olivia Bender, of Monroe, and their four sons, commercial real estate advisor, Robert William Bender of Birmingham, MI, actor, Bryan Patrick Bender of Ann Arbor, MI, student/scholar, Daniel Steven Bender, currently of Hofu, Japan, and student/athlete, Andrew Bradley Bender of Monroe, daughter, Genevieve Bender McIntyre, and her husband, Joseph Michael McIntyre, of Monroe, and their daughter, resident/physician, Dr. Maris Faye McIntyre of Chicago, IL, daughter, Maris Bender Day and her husband, Lawrence Franklin Day, of Dundee, MI, daughter, Karen Bender Kazarian and her husband, Dan Kazarian, of Fallbrook, CA, and son, William Michael Bender and his wife, Jamie Pardieke Bender, of Monroe, and their sons, twins, William Michael Bender Jr. and James Nicholas Bender, and the youngest, Grant Arnold Bender, all Monroe students. Along with her husband, her parents, brothers; John J. and Joseph J. Swiderski, sisters; Genevieve A. Bender and Mary Lezak, also preceded her in death. Friends may call at the Bacarella Funeral Home Monday from 7-9 PM and Tuesday from 12 PM through funeral services celebrating he life at 3 PM. Interment will be held at St. Joseph Cemetery, Monroe. Fr. Aaron DePeyster of St. Mary Catholic Church will officiate. She was a supporter of rescued animals and all of her many pets were shelter rescues. Because of that the family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial gifts in her name may be given to the Alliance for Spay Neuter and Pet Rescue, PO Box 2531, Monroe, MI 48161.