Anna J. Bender

Anna J. Bender, 79 of Elkhart, passed away on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018 at Elkhart General Hospital.

She was born October 13, 1938 in Osceola to Morris and Doris (Gay) Young. She married Thomas E. Bender on Nov. 23, 1957 in Osceola. He died on March 16, 2010. Surviving are 2 sons, Roger Bender of Middlebury and Brian (Sandi) Bender of Elkhart, 3 daughters, Renee (Chet) Wilson of Crothersville, IN, Rita (Darren Persicke) Veatch of Coloma, MI and Libby Bender both of Elkhart; 15 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren, a brother, William (Sandy) Young of Elkhart and a sister, Nancy (Lee) Tieman of Florida.

Anna was a homemaker and later worked at the front desk for the Econo Lodge, Elkhart for 10 years. She and her husband were foster parents for over 50 children and adopted 5 children. She was a member of New Hope United Methodist Church, Women of the Moose and the Red Hat Society.

The family will receive friends from 2-6 pm Tuesday, Feb. 6th at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home where services will be held at 11 am Wednesday, Feb. 7th. Rev. Andy Martin will officiate. Burial will follow at Five Points Cemetery, Edwardsburg.

Memorial contributions may be given to New Hope UM Church. Online condolences may be sent to www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.