Browse the obituary of residing in the province of Ontario for funeral details
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Douglas Otto Bender, who passed away peacefully at Chapman House in his 86th year, surrounded by his loving family.
Born on July 15, 1939, in Hanover, Ontario, to the late Herbert and Luella (Lantz) Bender, Doug embraced life with enthusiasm and a deep love for his roots in the small town. A natural athlete, he excelled in sports during his youth, playing basketball, football and participating in track.
After graduating from JDSS, Doug began his career at the Royal Bank in Hanover before transferring to Arthur. He later attended the University of Waterloo and went on to work at Bingemans in Kitchener. Doug married Mary Bender, and together they raised their three children: John, Peter, and Katy. When his father faced a health crisis, Doug returned to Hanover to help run Bender’s Meat Market, a family business he would later expand to include catering. He took great pride in serving the community, including catering a gathering of over 2,000 people during a visit by Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. His well-loved Bender family recipes, particularly for potato salad and sausage, became local favourites, sold in grocery stores across Grey Bruce. He was an avid curler who attended many bonspiels in Quebec City.
In the mid-1980s, Doug sold his business and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he married Betty Sue Bender. There, he pursued a career in food services with clients such as Delta airlines. He later became a successful importer of olive oil, traveling to Turkey, Greece, Egypt, California, and Argentina to source quality oils. His strong work ethic and charm made him a well-known figure among chefs in Atlanta and Birmingham, where he not only sold olive oil but also personally delivered supplies between chefs on busy weekends.
After Betty Sue’s passing, Doug continued making frequent trips back to Canada, cherishing his growing family.
In recent years, Doug found love again and married Donna Bender, with whom he shared many joyful adventures. Together, they enjoyed time in the Carolina Low Country, where Doug developed a deep appreciation for boating, crabbing, and coastal cuisine. In 2020, he and Donna returned to Canada, settling in Walkerton, where they treasured family time, day trips around Grey Bruce, and attending the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Doug spent the last 18 months at Brucelea Haven, where he was cared for with compassion and dignity. He will no doubt be missed by staff and residents as he was the life of the party!
He is lovingly remembered by his beloved wife, Donna Bender, and his children:
Katy (Doug) Hogg of Fauquier
John David (Heather) Bender of Hanover
Gina (Scott) Elliott of Columbia, South Carolina
Cherished grandfather of Jessie, Cody, and Danielle Hogg; Ethan (April) and Avryl Bender; Grayson and Ouita Elliott. Proud great-grandfather to Cohen and Atticus Bender, and Skylar Hogg.
Doug will also be deeply missed by his siblings:
David (Barbara) Bender
John Herbert Bender
Jane (Don) Deratnay
He will be remembered fondly by his nieces and grandnieces: Sarah (Bill), Jenny (Dean), Cherie (Gord), Laurie (Glen), Madeline (Jonathan), Claudia and Evie. Doug will always be held dear in the hearts of the Deloach family. He was predeceased by his son, Peter James Bender, and Jamie Hicks.
Visitation will be held at Mighton Funeral Home, Hanover, Ontario, on Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will take place on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 356 9th St. Hanover, Ontario.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church or Chapman House in Doug’s honour.
2025
Death notice for the town of: Hanover, Province: Ontario
death notice Douglas Bender 2025
obituaries notice Douglas Bender 2025
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Douglas Bender 2025 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
