Tuesday, July 8, 2014 we lost our mother, Eileen Edith Bendel. After a courageous battle to come back from a stroke, she passed peacefully in her sleep.

As a young woman, she was an apprentice at the Queen’s Florist in London, where she learned a trade that stayed with her throughout her life. Her tremendous talent she shared with the church. This all contributed to her path of serving the Lord, and in her hometown of Felpham, England, she became a Deaconess at St. Mary’s, where you gave sermons, presided over funerals and took communion to those not able to leave their homes.

After returning to the United States, she joined St. Hubert Catholic Church in Langley and up until the last year would attend services five times a week until it was no longer easy for her to be mobile.

She leaves behind her beloved Himalayan cat, Rhaji. She called him her prince, and he was definitely treated like one.

She is survived by two sons, Barry (wife Doris) and Paul (wife Jo); two daughters, Dawn Jasper and Carole Livers; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mum, may you rest in peace; you have been taken to a better place.

There will be a funeral mass at 10 a.m. Friday, July 25, at St. Hubert Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Hubert Church or WAIF.