Ann Bender

Ann Jean Johnson Bender, 85, of Owensboro passed away Monday, May 28, 2018. She was born May 7, 1933 to the late Richard and Mary Johnson. Ann would like all her friends and family to know she's had a change of address. She moved up to a "one of a kind" patio home complete with a swing in the living room. It's located inside a wonderful "gated" community where she will be reunited with friends, family, and her grandpuppies. Ann is regretful and happy that she will have to miss this latest party but would love for everyone to celebrate her life with love, laughter, stories, and an assortment of pies. All those who knew her loved her famous mac n' cheese. Though she left behind her recipe, it will never be duplicated to her consistency of creaminess. She truly believed that adding a "lil bit" of extra salt never hurt anybody. When Ann wasn't helping raise her grandchildren, playing cards with or just visiting friends, she could be found reading in her swing that is hung inside her home. She also passed on her love of reading to many people whose lives she touched. Ann's biggest joy was her family which included 5 children. She was even called out by her card buddies for her "never ending" stories about her 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. She has often been described as a lady that believe "the glass is always half full"! She definitely could and would take lemons and turn them in to "wine". Dad has been waiting on a woman for 33 years and no doubt will be there with open arms with pipe in hand. He, along with Bill and Wanda Aull, Jim and JoAnn Head, as well as others that have gone before her, have planned a luau to welcome Ann into her new home.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, John Harold Bender and many other friends and family members.

Survivors include her children, Mary Pickrell (John) of Owensboro, Rick Bender (DeLaine) of Lexington, KY, Tim Bender (Lynette) of Louisville, KY, and Paula Atherton (Scott) of Owensboro; her 12 grandchildren, Kristina (Greg), Holly (Willie), Melissa (Mike), Robert, Jenna (David), Jordan, Lauren, Olivia, Taylor, Ross, Luke (Hannah), and Leanne; her 9 great grandchildren, Miles, Wyatt, Lillie Kate, Lincoln, Nathaniel, Haley, Addie, Liam, and Paisley; her beloved brother, Paul R. Johnson.


The service will be 10AM Friday, June 1, 2018 at Blessed Mother Catholic Church. Fr. Tony Jones along with Fr. Mike Clark will officiate. The burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery. The visitation will be 4-8PM Thursday and 9AM until service time on Friday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Hospice of Western KY c/o Heartford House. The family would like to thank the staff of Signature Health at Hillcrest for the wonderful care and compassion she received during her stay.

Online condolences can be made at www.glennfuneralhome.com