Cynthia Kane Bender

Cynthia Kane Bender, formerly of West Chester Cynthia Kane Bender, 77, of Pocono Pines, Pa., died Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, of cardiac arrest due to complications from chemotherapy for colon cancer at the Gesinger Wyoming Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre. Cynthia, daughter of G. Gibbs Kane, Jr. and Rosamond Alioth Kane, grew up in West Chester and attended West Chester Public Schools before graduating from Friends School, Wilmington, Del. She graduated from Lasell Junior College and attended Tufts University and the University of Iowa. Cynthia lived in Swarthmore for 46 years, spending summers in Lake Naomi, in Pocono Pines before becoming a full-time resident there three years ago. In Swarthmore, she was active in the Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, serving multiple terms as and Elder and Deacon, as well as singing in the choir and serving as a Stephen Minister. She was active in the community serving on Boards of the Swarthmore Swim Club and the Swarthmore Recreational Association. She was past president of the PEO chapter and for years was a member of the Hemlock Paddle Tennis Club. She also was a tennis player and a golfer. She will be remembered for her endless energy, enthusiasm, sense of humor, love for life, and the selfless giving of herself to others. As one person said, "She brought sunshine into a dark room, love to people who felt ignored, and a spirit of "lets get it done" to people who needed a boost." Cynthia is survived by her husband, A. Douglas Bender of 55 years; four children, Kane Douglas Bender of West Chester, Kimberly North Kentwell-Dunn of Ivyland, Pa., Jeffrey Griggs Bender of Atlanta, Ga. and Jonathan Gibbs of Lake Mary, Fla.; a sister, Meredith Kane Tolsdorf of West Chester; and four grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Swarthmore Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to the PEO's Cottey College, c/o PEO Chapter P, 419 Riverview Road, Swarthmore, PA 19081, or to the Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, 727 Harvard Avenue, Swarthmore, PA, 19081.