Clara Elizabeth (Francis) Bender

Clara Elizabeth (Francis) Bender, 91, a resident of Dorothy Love Retirement Community in Sidney went to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 2:48 AM. She was born January 18, 1918, near Frenchtown, Ohio, the oldest daughter of Henry and Irene (Barga) Francis. On July 3, 1937, she married Aloysius (Al) Bender in St. Remy's Church in Russia, Ohio who preceded her in death on August 18, 1990. Survivors are her children, Robert (Suzanne) Bender of Cincinnati; Carol Meyer of Sidney; Leo (Nancy) Bender of Tennessee; Louis (Diane) Bender of Wapakoneta; Thomas (Donna) Bender of Sidney; Phyllis (Tom) DeVelvis of Sidney; Rosalie (Fred) Billing of Sidney; Gerald (Susan) Bender of Fort Loramie; Katherine (Larry) Martin of Sidney; and C. Eugene (Jeanette) Bender of Sidney. She was also proud of her 47 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. A great grandchild, a little girl will be due in April and is to be named Clara Christina Bender. Deceased is a son-in-law, David Meyer and daughter-in-law, Rita Bender and an adopted daughter, Susan Kay Bender, and grandson, Jason Bender. She is also survived by brothers, Ray (Jeanie) Francis of Versailles, and John (Marty) Francis of Greenville, and sisters, Martha Plas of Anna; Mary Francis of Fort Loramie; Rita Goubeaux of Osgood, Monica (Paul) Stephan of Lake Placid, Florida and sister-in-law, Agnes Francis of Versailles. Deceased are brothers, Charles, Norbert, Ralph, August and Henry Francis Jr., and sisters, Leona Zircher and Lovena Grillot. She spent a number of years in charge of dinners and weddings held at the Sidney Moose Lodge and enjoyed all with whom she came in touch. She was most happy when she was nurturing and teaching her children and grandchildren and loved all those she met at Dorothy Love in her later years. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 18, 2009 at 10:30 AM at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Sidney, Ohio with Rev. Jason Bedel and Rev. James O'Connor con-celebrating the mass. Burial will follow at Shelby Memory Gardens, Sidney. Friends may call at Salm-McGill and Tangeman Funeral Home in Sidney on Thursday, December 17, 2009 from 2-8 PM and on Friday, December 18, 2009 from 9:00-10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wilson Hospice, 915 W. Michigan St., Sidney, Ohio 45365; Holy Angels Catholic School, 324 S. Ohio Ave., Sidney, Ohio 45365 or Dorothy Love Retirement Community Center, 3003 W. Cisco Rd., Sidney, Ohio 45365. Envelopes will also be available at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed to the Bender family on Salm-McGill and Tangeman Funeral Home's web site at: www.salm-mcgillandtangemanfh.com

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