Cecelia Eilleen Bendel
June 29, 1932 – February 26, 2019

Cecelia (nee Dunne) Bendel of Humboldt, SK, (and formerly of LeRoy, SK), passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at Humboldt District Hospital after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Cecelia was 86 years of age and always young at heart. Cecelia was born in Sinnett, SK, to Charles and Mary (nee Koberinski) Dunne. She attained her Grade 11 education, and at the age of 17, met Jake (Jacob) Bendel at a dance. How she loved to dance! Cecelia and Jake were married on October 17, 1950 and started a life of children and living and loving together. Cecelia’s inspiration was her Mom, who raised 12 children in a small home, without efficiencies, and still found time for fun, cards, and preparing large meals not only for her own family, but often unexpected guests as well. Cecelia lived up to the example set by her Mom, managing the home, helping with the farm and with Jake, raising their six children with unselfish love, much sacrifice, and hard work. She inspired in us the values of family, honesty, forgiveness, sharing, humility and faith. There was much hard work mixed with many fun, joyful times in the Bendel household! She described herself as a Household Engineer and she was fully proficient in that role. Homemade meals for eight everyday included fresh baking, farm-raised meat and vegetables. She sewed most of our clothes, all the while gardening, raising chickens, and more baking. The house always smelled delicious! Cecelia loved the family trips to the lake and learned to conquer her fear of being on the water, because she didn’t want to miss out on family fun, and she discovered that she loved to fish! Some of her favourite memories are of good fishing days and fire pit evenings. The fellowship and singing, with a glass of wine, was always a perfect ending to the day, whether it was a fish fry or hot dogs on a stick. She was active in the community; helping with many meals catered by the LeRoy Catholic Ladies Aid and served for 18 years as president. She taught First Communion Class for seven years, was a member of the Parish Council and the Social Justice representative for Holy Rosary Parish. She also served as president of the Lerose Lodge Auxiliary for four years and then served as a member of the board. After the children left home Cecelia attended a business course at St. Peter’s College and then worked for Humboldt Home Care for one and one half years. She resigned in 1979, the Year of the Child, especially appropriate for Cecelia who had four grandchildren born that year. Her business skills were of great benefit to assist Jake with document preparation and organization during his years of social work training and activities related to the Christian Farm Crisis Action Committee before his death in 1993. Cecelia devoted enormous amounts of time to her family, visiting often and especially when grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born. Each new member of the family was a blessing from Heaven, and she treasured each and everyone. After Jake passed, her visits with family became even more frequent and her children and grandchildren loved their time with her which often included playing crokinole and card games, building puzzles and trying to beat her at scrabble, succeeding rarely! In addition to visiting her family, Cecelia was still active in the community, continuing to serve on the Lerose Lodge board, serving as treasurer for the Watson Minus One Club for eight years, and playing cards regularly. After moving into her condo, she enjoyed puzzle building and playing cards in the common room and she became an avid member of the Golden Age Choir. A family highlight has been her annual birthday party for the past several years, always a festive occasion with a singsong by the firepit, many laughs and hugs, with family and dear friends. She was a true example of how to live a Christian life, and firmly adhered to Roman Catholic beliefs, believing them to be a guide for life. She encouraged faith by example, always being welcoming to others and treating people with kindness and sincerity. She is known for her beautiful smile which would light up the room, warming you to the heart, making each person feel special and loved. She shared that smile often and has many good friends. One of her favourite sayings was “God Bless Everyone”. Cecelia is lovingly remembered and greatly missed by her six children: Michael (Elena) of Calgary, Jim (Deb) of Humboldt, David (Lynda) of LeRoy, Joan (David Hines) of Wimborne, AB, Kathy (Blaine Saunders) of Victoria, BC, and Angie (Mike Tuchscherer) of Humboldt; 21 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; siblings: Anne, Jim, Wilfred and Alan; siblings-in-law: Mary, Mary Anne, Mildred, Laura and Velma; numerous nieces and nephews; her condo friends, card playing and singing friends; and Cecelia will also be remembered by many of her children’s friends who she always welcomed wholeheartedly. Cecelia was predeceased by her husband Jacob; parents, Mary and Charles Dunne; parents-in-law, Marie and Mike Bendel; siblings: Francis, Kathleen, Charlie, Alice, Lawrence, Bill and Leo; siblings-in-law: Mary, August, Harold, Martha, Leo, Betty, and Lawrence; and her son-in-law, Louis LeGuyader. The Prayer Service was held at Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church in LeRoy on Friday, March 15, 2019, at 7:30 pm. The Funeral Mass was offered at St. Augustine R.C. Church in Humboldt on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., followed by lunch in the parish hall. Interment followed at Holy Rosary R.C. Cemetery, LeRoy. Pallbearers for the Prayer Service and interment were grandsons, Ian Bendel and Jason Bendel, great-grandson Austin Trottier, grandsons-in-law Andy Riopel and Shaun Muderewich, and son-in-law Mike Tuchscherer. Pallbearers for the Funeral Mass were nephews: Pat Dunne, Jerome Dunne, Tim Dunne, Lawrence Dunne Jr., Gregg Dunne and Kelly Dunne. Honorary pallbearers are “all those who knew Cecelia”. An honour guard was formed by members of the Golden Age Choir and Cecelia’s condo friends. Memorial donations may be directed to the Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Parish and Cemetery, LeRoy, SK, Evergreen Home (formerly Lerose Lodge), LeRoy, or the St. Augustine Parish Centre, Humboldt.

This Notice Is Courtesy Of
Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel - Humboldt, Saskatchewan
(306-682-4114)