Florence Louise Bender

Obituary Florence Louise Bender July 28, 1924 ~ November 16, 2013 Florence Louise Bender, 89, died peacefully on November 16, 2013. She was born to Paul and Julia Nino on July 28, 1924. She lived her whole life in the Tacoma area surrounded by a close knit community of Italian and German family and friends. Florence graduated from Stadium High School. On September 7, 1947 she married the love of her life, Thomas Valentine Bender. Together they raised four children. They were married for 43 years before he preceded her in death on January 8, 1990. Florence and Thomas devoted their lives to one another, family and the Catholic faith. They are now together again. Florence enjoyed sewing, cross stitching, scrapbooking, canning fruits and vegetables, taking Sunday car rides, going on trips with the family and playing games with her grandchildren. Florence is survived by her sister, Helen Berg; four children, Julianna Peters (John), Thomas (Christine), Kenneth (Susan) and Janice Bender Lee. She had ten grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 22, 2013 at 10:30am at St. Rita Catholic Church with a Rosary being recited prior at 10:15am. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital or to St. Rita Catholic Church. Interment Calvary Cemetery. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneycares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.