Loretta Bender

Loretta Bender was a beloved sister, mother, grandmother, and friend during her incredible 76 years of life. She passed away surrounded by family on the evening of October 31st, 2022 after fighting a long battle with Dementia. She battled the disease for the last 12 years with the most amazing grace, bravery and strength. She lived every day with positivity and determination to find joy in the small things.

Loretta graduated from Arcola High School in Arcola, IN in 1964, and over the course of her life, she worked in different positions serving the community and her family in Fort Wayne, Indiana. For the majority of her professional career, Loretta helped build her community as a realtor. She loved the process of helping a family find the place they would be happy. She was adored by her many customers and colleagues for her empathy, humor, and expertise throughout the hard process of buying or selling a home.

Everyone who knew Loretta knew that she was an extremely kind and loving person, that could make anyone laugh. We will remember her for her loving nature, her playfulness, and her occasional, endearing stubbornness. She doted on her family. You couldn’t spend a minute with her without her telling us how much she loved her family, how beautiful she thought each of them was, and how proud she was of each one.

Loretta was predeceased in death by her parents, Robert and Betty Jane Spackman, sister Rita Louise Spackman, and nephew Christopher Cerza. She is survived by her children Erik (Catina) Bender and Gretchen Bender, two beloved granddaughters Brittany Bender and Raven Bender, Sister, Kathy Toribio, her two nephews, Greg Cerza and David Cerza, her Niece Jennifer Cerza, and their families. She will forever be in their hearts and missed very much every day.

A celebration of life service will be held at the HopeUC Chuch, 4683 Columbia Pike Thompson's Station, TN on Friday, November 5th, 2022 at 6:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to the Riley Hospital in Indianapolis: https://www.rileychildrens.org/about/ways-to-give .