Submitted by: Dan Rich

Sister Marie Josephine Bender CSC

Apr. 10, 1916 – May 3, 1988

South Bend Tribune 5/4/1988

Services for Sister Marie Josephine Bender CSC, 72, of Holy Family Convent, Danville, Ill., formerly of South Bend, who died at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in St. Elizabeth Hospital, Danville, will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Church of Loretto, with burial in Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, both at St. Mary’s. Friends may call Friday afternoon and before services Saturday at Saint Mary’s Convent, where a wake will be at 6:15 p.m. Friday.

Sister Bender was born April 10, 1916 in Alexandria, Ind. as Gertrude Bender. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross at St. Mary’s College on Feb. 1, 1937, coming from Alexandria. She was received as a novice Aug. 15, 1937, and professed her vows Aug. 15, 1939. She was assigned to teaching elementary school and served schools in Morris, Evergreen Park and Danville, all in Illinois; St. Joseph, South Bend; St. Ambrose School, Anderson; and schools in Michigan City, Elkhart and Valparaiso from 1940 to 1972. In 1972 she joined the Catholic Community of Burton, Mish., assisting in the soup kitchen from 1984 to 1985. In 1985 she served at the Prayer and Hospitality Center of Holy Family Parish in Danville.