Teefe Gabriel Bander

Teefe G. Bander was born in Macon, Georgia on August 13th, 1921 to Mose and Mary Gabriel. She grew up in Lake Worth, Florida alongside her four siblings. She graduated from Lake Work High School as Salutatorian. She moved to Michigan and graduated Valedictorian from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She began working at IBM, but later took a position with the Truman Administration State Department assisting our Ambassador in Lebanon. When she returned to Michigan, after her tour with the State Department, she married Paul. Ultimately, they settled in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan where they raised their four children. Teefe worked alongside Paul in their family business, Bander Real Estate Investments, Inc. Later in her career she worked for General Dynamics supporting the M-1 Tank Program.

Teefe was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother who was beloved universally by her friends. Throughout her life she enjoyed entertaining and travel, world cuisine and most of all her children. She loved nature and the land, fishing, anything chocolate and a great game of cards! She loved to drive and was nearly impossible to get lost, unless she was in the woods. Teefe was known for her beautiful nails, skin, shoes and sense of style. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was a pillar of strength. One of the strongest women you could ever hope to meet. Her gentle kindness and loving way will be forever missed.

In the early hours of June 8th, 2017, surrounded by family, Teefe slipped quietly into the night. She was 95 years old. Teefe was preceded in death by her beloved eldest son Paul Bander, Jr. She was survived by her husband Paul Bander, son Mark Bander (Kathleen), son Steven Bander (Margie) and daughter Suzy Hiller-Campbell (George) and their six children. Additionally she was survived by her brother Samuel Gabriel (Patricia), along with her sister in law Germaine Bander.