SHERIDAN -- Mass of Christian Burial for Sheridan resident Nora C. Bender, 83, will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Sheridan by Fr. Ron Stolcis.

Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23.

She died Oct. 20, 2005, at Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County.

Born Jan. 12, 1922, in Elyria, Ohio, she was the daughter of Louise (Stevens) and Christopher Browne; and was raised and educated in Sheridan. As an elementary student at Holy Name School in 1935, she conceived the idea for the school's annual fund-raiser, the Holy Name Chili Dinner.

She moved to Seattle and met Robert A. Bender. They were married Sept. 27, 1947, in Montesano, Wash.

They lived in Montesano until relocating to Seattle in 1971. She and her husband lived there for more than 30 years and were active in St. Vincent dePaul Society.

For several years, they spent summers in Sheridan; and, in 1999, settled there.

She was a devout parishioner of Holy Name Catholic Church and enjoyed her prayer and Bible study groups. Known as a wonderful wife and mother, she always had a kind word and smile for all.

Survivors include her beloved husband of 58 years of Sheridan; two sons and their wives, Robert Bender Jr. of Los Angeles and David Bender of New York City; daughter, Patricia Mulcahey, and her husband of Bellevue, Wash.; two grandchildren; sister, Betty Nelson of Wichita, Kan.; and brother, George Browne of Loveland, Colo.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Marjorie Scheeler.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to Holy Name School Fund, in care of Kay Roush, First Federal Savings Bank, P.O. Box 6007, Sheridan, WY 82801.