Obituary of Marion S. Bender

Loving Mother & Grandmother Marion S. Bender, age 82, of Trumbull, past Owner of Marion Gallery in Monroe, died on Tuesday December 29, 2009 at Connecticut Hospice in Branford. Born in Dolgeville, NY on March 16, 1927, she was a daughter of the late William and Anna Weinschreider Slifka. After graduating from Albany Business College in 1945 and three years in banking, she moved to General Electrics Schenectady plant Employment Operation where she met Donald Bender, an Electrical Engineer from Wisconsin. They were married in 1950 and after a GE Manufacturing program, that moved them to New York, Indiana, Massachusetts and Vermont, they settled in Trumbull, CT in 1971. In 1974, Marion moved to a new role as the assistant to the Fairfield University Alumni Director where she stayed for six years. In 1983, she founded Marion Gallery and promoted original American Art and Framing at a local and national levels. She was a loving Mom and Grandmother. Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Donald R. Bender., a son, Donald Kenneth Bender and his wife Donna J. Bender of Fairfield; a daughter, Barbara Fillman and her husband, Jerry Fillman, of Washington Township, NJ; a brother, William Slifka, of Stratford, NY; a sister, Theresa Pickert, of Corning CA, her beloved grandchildren, Kimberly and Evan Bender; Kelly, Lindsey and Ryan Fillman, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral Information Funeral services will take place on Wednesday January 6, 2010 at 9 a.m. from the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull, and at 10 a.m. at Christ the King Church, Trumbull for a Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in St. Josephs Cemetery, Dolgeville, N.Y. at a later date. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. Donations Information Memorial contributions may be made to: Cleveland Clinic: By phone: 800-223-2273, Ext, 41245, Email; GIVING@CCF.ORG, By Mail: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, PO Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193-1655.