Constance Esther Bender

Mom met the love of her life, Peter John Bender, in 1941 after he had been in a motorcycle accident near her home and was left on the street with injuries.  She was able to get him to the family home where she and Nani tended to his wounds.   Dad was in the U. S. Army stationed at Fort Lewis.

The rest of the story: They married in 1942, and Dad was deployed to the Philippines during World War II where he remained for three long years.  Three children were born to Pete and Connie:  Lettie (Joe) Devish, Sherri Martin, and Bob Bender.  Mom was predeceased by her husband, Pete, her son, Bob, and six of her siblings, Vince Genna, Marie Menconi, Rosie Wood, Michael Genna, Nicholas Genna, and Dorothy Brown.  She is survived by her one remaining sibling, Arnie Genna, daughters, Lettie & Sherri, Granddaughters Julie (Amy) Johnson, Denelle Talbot, Dena (John) Hazuka, Chris (John) Petrich, Carole (Jack) McQuade, and Cheryl (Dave) Lane, Grandsons Pete Bender, Denny Martin, Great Grandsons Trevor Robertson, Travis Robertson, Kohl Talbot, Blade (Hailey) Gundermann, Cameron (Kelly) Gundermann, Johnny Hazuka, and Great Granddaughter Jordyn (Josh) Rounkles, Great Great Grandson Wyatt Rounkles, Great Great Granddaughters, Alaya Robertson and Addie Rounkles.

After Dad’s retirement Mom and Dad opened and operated Bender’s Upholstery with son, Bob. They did custom upholstery, and especially loved doing custom upholstery on cars and boats, in addition to contract work for The Boeing Company, repairing and restoring office furniture until their retirement.

Mom was the second of eight children born to Italian Immigrants, Nicolo and Dorothy Genna.  She graduated from Stadium High School and then worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital in the nursery as an aide, and later at The Tacoma Match Factory.  She was a member of Sons and Daughters of Italy and  their Drill Team. A proud member of the Tacoma Chapter of ARC, she led their Adult Recreation Program at Jefferson School on Stevens Street every Friday night for many years. 

Growing up we spent a great deal of time square dancing and spending the weekends with Mom and Dad at Mason Lake, helping clear Nani and Granddad’s property so that a house could be built for the entire family to enjoy. Those are fond memories of all of the Genna family children and grandchildren.

After we three children were all in school, Mom started working part time in the kitchen at University of Puget Sound. She became “mom” to many students. She had a close bond with her co-workers, and they remained close friends for many years after their retirement.

Mom and Dad built their dream home in 1978 and became members of St. John of the Woods Catholic Church.Mom was very active in church functions. She became a member of Karen Knobbe’s “Kitchen Crew” where she volunteered at funerals, senior luncheons and other activities in the church hall.For many years Mom and her brothers, Nick and Arnie, made the spaghetti sauce and meatballs for the annual Spaghetti Feed.

Mom enjoyed sewing clothes for us, doing crafts and embroidering. She made Jewelry Trees with her beloved sister, Rosie, for the entire family and close friends. She also started custom embroidering Christmas tree skirts, and in 2017 she finally agreed to let us enter one of them into the Puyallup Fair. She won the Grand Prize. She joyfully embroidered the panels for the Quilts the ladies of the church made as fundraisers for the annual Octoberfest.

Mom was well known for her baking, especially her bread, her “Connie Bender Dessert”, zucchini squares, sesame seed cookies and her fabulous Italian Biscotti.

Mom and Dad helped many people over the years, but especially members of the Filipino community, as they held a special place in their hearts after Dad’s military service there.

The family would like to give special thanks to Mom’s home caregivers, Priscilla Mutisi, Jane Mukuu and Eunice Mbugua, the staff at Pioneer Place Memory Care, especially her nurse, Juna, and the Sisters of Lovers of the Holy Cross.

Mom will be sorely missed by her family and friends.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. John of the Woods Mission Church, 9903 24th Avenue East, Tacoma, WA98445 on Friday, February 10, 2023 at 11:00 am. Rosary will be recited at 10:30 am prior to Mass for those wishing to attend. The service will be live streamed at:https://www.facebook.com/SJOWTacoma/ Gaffney Funeral Home, 1002 South Yakima Avenue, Tacoma, WA98405 is in charge of Mom’s care.

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