G. Thelma Bendler

Born: 12/5/1915
Died: 5/26/2012

Mrs. G. Thelma Bendler, age 96, of Port Penn, DE, passed away on Saturday, May 26, 2012, at Broadmeadow Nursing Home in Middletown.
Thelma was born in Philadelphia, PA, on December 5, 1915, daughter of the late Gertrude and John MacCaughern. After her marriage, she moved to Port Penn and lived in the Bendler family home for 70 years.
She was an elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Port Penn and chaplain of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Port Penn Fire Company for 18 years. Active in her community, she was a charter member of the Port Penn Historical Society and the Civic Association. She loved politics and, as a younger woman, was a member of the Lower New Castle County Republican Club. She continued to support the GOP throughout her life.
Thelma was employed as a hostess at the Augustine Inn until it closed in the 1970s. Her next employment was as a hostess at the ChesDel Restaurant, where she retired at the age of 85 after 20 years of service. She loved her jobs and made many wonderful friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert “Kelly” Bendler; three brothers, John, Sgt. Maj. Walter, and Howard MacCaughern; and sister-in-law, Marion MacCaughern. She is survived by her daughter, Eileen Messick of Middletown; grandchildren, Paul Reed and his partner Phillip Reed, Kelly Stanley and her husband Mark, and John Reed and his wife Valerie; great granddaughters, Lauren Stanley and her husband Charles Carpenter and Morgan Stanley; sister-in-law, Marie MacCaughern; and special nieces, nephew, and cousins.
Her family would like to thank the staff at Broadmeadow for the special loving care and compassion given to Thelma. Thanks also to Dorothy, her roommate, who became her special friend. The visits, cards, flowers, and friendship gifts she received were a delight to her.
Services will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to her church, the First Presbyterian Church of Port Penn, P.O. Box 171, Port Penn, DE 19731.