Donna Jean Bagnall Bender of Port Huron, died peacefully on Monday, February 8, 2021 at the age of 92, and is now with the Most High God.
She was born November 30, 1928 in Port Huron to the late Harry and Violet Bagnall and lived there all her life. She married August E. Bender on December 24, 1948 in Angola, Indiana and together they raised three children.
Donna’s greatest joy was spending time with her own and her church families. She was a longtime member of Colonial Woods Missionary Church. Donna was very skilled in sewing, knitting, Faberge eggs, and other crafts; and she also taught Brazilian embroidery. She showed loving kindness and care to the many that she cared for in her nursing home on Water Street for 15 years. Her visit to the Holy Land was the greatest of her many dreams that she was able to fulfill.
She is survived by her three children, Margo (Clarence) Wendell of Port Huron, Robert Bender of Port Huron, and Melanese (Nigel) Payne of Houston, Texas; five grandchildren, Gwyn (David) Bilyeu, Tanya Wendell, C.J. (Amanda) Wendell, Ian (Kathryn) Payne and Dr. Michael (Krisann) Payne; eight great grandchildren, Ryan and Cody O’Hare, Alex Shurkey, Makayla Wendell, and Abigail, Isabelle, Matthias and Connor Payne; and one great great grandchild, Rozlynn Thrushman. She was preceded in death by her husband, August Eugene Bender, who died on May 6, 1993.
Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. on Friday in Pollock-Randall Funeral Home. A limited number of people will be allowed in at a time. Please wear a mask for the safety and comfort of others.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2021 in Colonial Woods Missionary Church with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. The Reverend Brian Ake will officiate.
Burial will be in Riverlawn Cemetery, Marysville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Colonial Woods Missionary Church. To send condolences, visit pollockrandall.com.
Donna’s most cherished hymn was “How Great Thou Art”:
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
