Borah Mae Bender

Borah was born on Jan. 31, 1929, in St. Louis, MO., to Anna (Goldstein) and Sam L. Goldenberg. She was a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan. She was retired from Ypsilanti State Hospital, Ypsilanti, MI, where she worked as a psychiatric social worker for over twenty years. She also worked for a number of years as a social worker in the Romulus, MI, school district.

Borah’s many interests included travel, reading, needlework of all kinds, music, raising orchids, and playing bridge. She was a prolific quilter and enjoyed participating in local handwork groups to make quilts and knitted or crocheted blankets for donation to local hospitals and shelters. For many years, Borah was a volunteer at the U of M’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens. She also was an accomplished pianist. Borah was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Max Bender. She is survived by her five children: Sharon Bender (Philadelphia, PA); David Bender and daughter-in-law Jo Bender (Cheverly, MD); Lisa Bender (Midlothian, VA); Michael Bender and daughter-in-law Holly Bender (Avon, OH); and Rachel Bender (Pinckney, MI). She is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Joshua Gordon, Samuel Gordon, Daniel Bender, August Bender, Avielle Bender, Ambrose Humphrey, Justin Humphrey, Jacob Bender, Samantha Bender, Matthew Bender and Margaret Bender; by her sister, Ruth Marion (Clayton, MO); and by several nieces and nephews. Her brother, Mitchell Goldenberg, predeceased her. A celebration of Borah’s life will take place in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.