Borah Mae Bender

Bender, Borah Mae 1/31/1929 - 2/16/2015 Ann Arbor Borah Mae Bender, 86, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away February 16, 2015, in Ann Arbor, MI.Borah was born on Jan. 31, 1929, in St. Louis, MO., to Anna (Goldstein) and Sam L. Goldenberg. She was a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and earned a master's degree in social work from the University of Michigan. She was retired from Ypsilanti State Hospital, Ypsilanti, MI, where she worked as a psychiatric social worker for over twenty years. She also worked for a number of years as a social worker in the Romulus, MI, school district. Borah's many interests included travel, reading, needlework of all kinds, music, raising orchids, and playing bridge. She was a prolific quilter and enjoyed participating in local handwork groups to make quilts and knitted or crocheted blankets for donation to local hospitals and shelters. For many years, Borah was a volunteer at the U of M's Matthaei Botanical Gardens. She also was an accomplished pianist. Borah was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Max Bender. She is survived by her five children: Sharon Bender (Philadelphia, PA); David Bender and daughter-in-law Jo Bender (Cheverly, MD); Lisa Bender (Midlothian, VA); Michael Bender and daughter-in-law Holly Bender (Avon, OH); and Rachel Bender (Pinckney, MI). She is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Joshua Gordon, Samuel Gordon, Daniel Bender, August Bender, Avielle Bender, Ambrose Humphrey, Justin Humphrey, Jacob Bender, Samantha Bender, Matthew Bender and Margaret Bender; by her sister, Ruth Marion (Clayton, MO); and by several nieces and nephews. Her brother, Mitchell Goldenberg, predeceased her. A celebration of Borah's life will take place in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to a charity of the donor's choice. www.muehligannarbor.com