BANGOR – Virginia E. “Ginny” Bendery, 92, died Aug. 8, 2006, at a local hospital, due to complications from surgery. She was born May 5, 1914, in South Portland, the daughter of Ralph and Beatrice (Benson) Greene. Ginny attended South Portland schools before marrying Alvin Messer in May of 1931. The couple lived in southern Maine before finally settling in Bangor, where Ginny worked for the Canteen Service Co. Though she officially retired as office manager in 1983, Ginny continued to work there part-time into her 80s, spending more than 50 years helping to build the business. She was a long-time member of the Grace United Methodist Church, Bangor. After Al passed away, Ginny found love again and married William Bendery of Bangor. They lived at Boyd Place and worshipped at the Hammond Street Congregational Church, both in Bangor. After Bill passed away in 2003, Ginny moved to Hancock to live with her son, Ernest Messer, with whom she attended the Community of Christ, Ellsworth. Ginny was a kind and generous woman who loved her family and friends dearly. An avid knitter, she created hundreds of afghans, sweaters, and more for family, friends and church fundraisers. She enjoyed helping people, had a positive outlook on life, and was especially fond of children. Ginny will be missed by her daughter, Elaine Brunkhardt and husband, Ron, of Fort Collins, Colo.; her son, Ernest Messer of Hancock; her brother-in-law, Elford Messer and wife, Louise, of South Portland; her sister-in-law, Alma Messer of Stonington, Conn.; five grandchildren, Alan Clark of Tucson, Ariz., David Clark and wife, Toria, of Erie, Colo., Cathy Kechter and special friend, Mike King, of Fort Collins, Colo., Jill Abbott and husband, Ron, of Amherst and Mark Messer of Ellsworth; 11 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; special friends, Lloyd and Jay Willey and Norman and Marguerite Buzzell; many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husbands, she was predeceased by her brother, Dwight Greene of East Sebago; and her granddaughter, Karen Carter of Ellsworth. Relatives and friends are welcome to call 5-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor where a celebration of Ginny’s life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, with the Rev. Dr. Mark Allen Doty, pastor of the Hammond Street Congregational Church, Bangor and the Rev. Jerry Stone of the Community of Christ, Ellsworth, officiating. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St., Bangor, after the service Saturday. Contributions in Ginny’s memory may be made to the Hammond Street Congregational Church, 28 High St., Bangor, ME 04401 or the Community of Christ, 283 State St., Ellsworth, ME 04605. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com
VIRGINIA E. ‘GINNY’ BENDERY
