Service:
St. Mary's Church, Blenheim
Monday December 29, 2014
11:00 a.m.
Visitation:
Blenheim Community Funeral Home
Saturday December 27, 2014
2:00 - 4:00 & 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Melvin Loyd Bender, age 74, known to all as “Mel”, born in Stratford, Ontario on April 17, 1940, took his final peaceful breath at St. Joseph’s Hospice in London with his best friend and wife, Gail, and family by his side, on Saturday December 20, 2014.
Mel is mourned by his wife and soul mate of 51 years, Gail, and sister Gail (Roy) Dorscht, children Lisa (Jeff) Lucio, Lynn (Jeff Lessard) Bender, Lori (Jim) Ryan, Luanne (Steve) Jamieson, Nathan (Natalie Rouse) Bender, and Justin (Shannon Dalziel) Bender.
He will be fondly remembered as “Grumpa” by his grandchildren, Madison & Meredith, Jake, Mackenzie & Zachary, Ethan, Aiden & Liam.
Mel was predeceased by his father, Harvey Adam Bender (1984), mother, Lucienne Marie Bender (Ethier) (2013), and his sister, Marlene James (2007).
Mel was very proud of his involvement with the prestigious Preston Scout House Band. He was a member for many years in the 1950’s. His formal education was in Kitchener, Waterloo and London. He entered into the Life Insurance Business in 1959, and in 1976 he moved his family to Blenheim. Mel was the founder of The Money Broker Inc. in Blenheim offering the first Deposit Broker business in Chatham-Kent for the sale of Guaranteed Investments Certificates to meet the investments needs of our community. This business has grown to include branch offices in Ridgetown, Tilbury and Leamington.
His journey was always full of his family, laughter, sharing a beer with good friends, and he could often be found singing a tune or dancing to his favourite country music. Mel & Gail enjoyed travelling across the continent, enjoying new experiences and making new friends along the way. In 2005, they bought a cottage in Grand Bend (which later became their retirement home) and spent many years renovating and enjoying the summers with family and friends. Cherished memories of family vacations and the cottage(home) in Grand Bend will continue to be shared with family and friends for years to come.
Visitation will be on Saturday December 27 from 2:00 pm – 4:00pm and 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at Blenheim Community Funeral Home. Funeral will be on Monday, December 29 at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Church.
Donations to the Chatham Kent Hospice, the Lung Association of Ontario or a charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.
