Frima Blume Bender

Bender, Frima Blume (Gordon) Age 78, of St. Louis Park, passed away at home on January 22, 2009, surrounded by her loved ones, after a courageous battle with peripheral neuropathy and, more recently, Alzheimer's disease. She was preceded in death by her loving and beloved husband of 53 years, Kenneth; as well as her mother and father, Minnie and Samuel A. Gordon; sister-in-law, Saralee Plachte and nephew, Steven Plachte. Frima was the granddaughter of Reverend Jacob Gordon, a shochet and moel in Minneapolis and A.B. Goldberg, a businessman/philanthropist in St. Paul, and was a niece of Rabbi Harold Gordon, Vice-President of the New York Board of Rabbis. She is survived by proud daughters and son-in-law, Rebecca Bender, Nancy Bender-Kelner and Barry Kelner; adoring and adored grandchildren, Marshall, Malcolm, Sage and Jackson Kelner and Lincoln Bernhard; close sister and brother-in-law, Josephine Berg Simes and Hy Simes; dear sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Dr. David and Meri Bender, Frances Bernbaum and Dr. Ellis and Bernice Ellison. She is also survived by cherished nieces and nephews, Sandra and Allen Kurland, David and Janie Berg, Jim and Judy Berg, Melvin Bernbaum, Sherna and Jerry Posner, Lorna Bernbaum, Karen Bender and Robert Siegel, Suzanne Bender and Randy King, Aimee Bender, Natalie Plachte, Michelle and David Plachte-Zuieback, Jim and Pat Ellison, David and Ann Ellison, Jeanne Robinson and David Milofsky, Kathy Ellison and Jack Epstein, all their children, and many cousins and friends. Frima's family wishes to especially thank their extended family of Virginia Catt, Vicky Korlewala and Linda Dweh, for their kind and tireless care of Frima; Drs. Douglas Godfrey, David Walk, Stephen Hammill and Pratap Reddy for their compassion; the entire outpatient staff at the University of Minnesota Hospital; the nursing staff at Abbot Northwestern MICC; and the Abbott Emergency Room physicians and nurses. Frima grew up in the Highland area of St. Paul, graduating from Central High School and the St. Paul Hebrew School. She then received a degree at the University of Minnesota in psychology and sociology. After she met Kenneth Bender at a friend's wedding and they were married, they built their home and lives, with their two daughters, in St. Louis Park. During the summers, Frima shared her love of fishing, swimming and the lake life at White Bear Lake with her family. She was an excellent swimmer, bowler and dancer. She taught those around her to appreciate the little things in life and nature, and she was strong in her faith in God, her love of America, and her beliefs about what was right. Frima was one of the most giving people one could ever meet, who thought of others before herself. She was always upbeat and curious, and enjoyed learning new things and imparting her wisdom to others. Frima was honored to be married to Kenneth, a silver star recipient in World War II, for his actions in combat for 69 days beginning on D Day plus 1 in Normandy, a lawyer and later owner of the Federated Store for 53 years in North Minneapolis. Frima was her children's and grandchildren's biggest fan. She encouraged, assisted and shared fully in the joy of her children's and grandchildren's accomplishments and took an active role in helping each child achieve his/her goals. Peoples' lives are like sunsets. Though a sunset fades at dusk, you remember when you encountered a truly magnificent one, even if you can't see it anymore -- it's God's artwork, which stays in your heart and mind. Frima was like that rare sunset we will never forget. We are thankful that God allowed us to be in the presence of Frima. Frima was an artist in so many areas of her life -- gardening in her perennial and rose garden, making delicacies in the kitchen, playing classical and ragtime piano, singing, and creating impressionist oil paintings. Frima's family is thankful for her fun-loving, determined spirit and will strive to continue her legacy of goodness. "As a gardener is to her garden, so is a good mother to her children." Frima was a wonderful gardener. Funeral services will be held MONDAY, JANUARY 26TH, 10:30 AM, at ADATH JESHURUN CONGREGATION, 10500 W. Hillside Lane, Minnetonka. SHIVA will be held at 7 P.M., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, at the Adath Jeshurun Congregation. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to: Talmud Torah of Minneapolis Foundation, Kenneth and Frima Bender Education Fund, 4330 Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park, MN 55416; St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, Adath Jeshurun Foundation, Kenneth and Frima Bender Fund, 10500 W. Hillside Lane, Minnetonka, MN, 55305, or donor's favorite charity. Hodroff-Epstein 612-871-1234 www.hodroffepstein.com
This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.