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Elsie Bender Obituary
Albany: Elsie M. (Griffith) Bender, 89, died peacefully Tuesday, July 8, 2008, at the Hospice Inn at St. Peter's Hospital. She was born and educated in Rochester, New York. She was the daughter of the late William and Margaret (Thomas) Griffith. Elsie married Merle E. Adams who died leading a combat bomber mission over Yugoslavia on April 1, 1945. They had one son, Thomas Adams Griffiths. In 1946 Elsie married William Griffiths of Utica, NY who had served during the war as a 2nd Lieutenant. They moved to Albany in 1953. Elsie worked as a bookkeeper for the Healthcare Association of New York State, retiring in 1984. She was a member of the Bethany Reformed Church, the Bethany Church Choir, the Festival Celebration Choir and the Slingerlands Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. Elsie volunteered at St. Peter's Hospital for 20 years and for many years for the American Red Cross.
Beloved wife of Raymond R. Bender; mother of Thomas (Heidi Hoffmann) Griffiths of Aspen, CO, Terry (Chuck) Pishko of St. John, Virgin Islands, Roger William (Gayle) Griffiths, Sr. of Slingerlands and William John (Ann Marie) Griffiths of Slingerlands; grandmother of William (Jessica) Bryant of Arnold, MD, Roger Griffiths, Jr. of Buffalo and Michael Griffiths of Slingerlands; great-grandmother of Gavin Bryant; sister of the late Roger Griffith and Bob Griffith; aunt of Patricia (Robert) Deegan of Fairport, NY. Also survived by additional nieces and nephews, three Bender children; Diane (Richard) Hasenbein, David (Sharon) Bender, Richard (Barbara) Bender and five step-grandchildren; David, Mark and Rachel Bender, Christopher Hasenbein and Jennifer Corazzini.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday at 10:30 am in Bethany Reformed Church, Albany. Relatives and friends are invited and may also call at the Daniel Keenan Funeral Home, 490 Delaware Ave., Albany on Friday, 4-8 pm. Interment will be in Memory's Garden Cemetery, Colonie.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Bethany Reformed Church Memorial Fund, 760 New Scotland Ave., Albany, NY 12208.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Elsie Bender
KELLEY BENSALAH
July 13, 2008
TO THE ENTIRE BENDER FAMILY: ALTHOUGH, I ONLY MET ELSIE ONCE SHE WAS A LOVELY LADY! MY MOM (THE LATE AUDREY BENSALAH) WORKED FOR ELSIE A SHORT WHILE. SHE WAS SO THANKFUL TO CARE FOR SUCH A KIND AND GENUWINE WOMAN. MY FAMILY AND I GIVE OUR DEEP EMPATHY TO ALL HER LOVED ONES SHE LEFT BEHIND.
Barry and Mary Ann Bryant
July 11, 2008
Terry and family,
Please accept our sincere sympathy on your Mom's passing. We always enjoyed sharing a little time with Elsie. She was a real sweetheart.
July 11, 2008
"Billy", sorry to hear of your mother's passing. She was always very sweet to me. Judy Harrington
mike sherin
July 11, 2008
Ray-
Mike and I( Colleen) are very sorry for your loss. I hope you find the services calming and peaceful.
I am sure Dave will be bringing Onyx by on Friday's....
Our condolences....
Dr. Mike
Pastor Eric Olsen
July 11, 2008
Roger and Family,
Our hearts are heavy as we think of the pain of loss that you are feeling... We pray that the Holy Spirit would comfort you with a sure and certain hope in the resurrection through Jesus Christ. Like Martha and Mary from Bethany with whom Jesus shared a deep love, we know that Elsie of Bethany (Reformed Church) shared a deep love with her Lord Jesus (and with all of you) and that her Lord's love for her will never end.
May you feel the warm embrace of God as you commend Elsie to God's almighty keeping.
All our love and prayers,
Rev. Eric O. Olsen
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Buffalo, NY
Marie Leuallen
July 11, 2008
Terry and Chuck,
We are so sorry for your loss. Our prayers go out to the family. We're sure you will agree that she is finally at peace.
Jennifer & Bob Enfield
July 11, 2008
Roger, Gayle and family,
With our deepest sympathy for your loss,
our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
John Hollner, III
July 10, 2008
Ray and Family -
Dorothy called me today to tell me of Elsie's passing. She has been a dear friend for so many years. Cass and I are so sorry for your loss and pray that God's grace will be with all of you during this time of sorrow.
Bob Minkler
July 10, 2008
Ray and Family. Very sorry to here of your loss.
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