ILION-Alice Irene Bender age 89 passed away peacefully on Saturday morning March 7, 2015 in Alpine Rehabilitation and Nursing, Little Falls. She was born on October 3, 1925 in Herkimer, daughter of the late Alexander and Katherine Malkowicz Wasileski. A lifelong area resident she was raised in Mohawk and was a graduate of Mohawk High School. On June 30, 1951 she was united in marriage with Charles Raymond Bender in the Holy Spirit Polish National Church, Little Falls. Together they shared a loving and devoted union of fifty-six years until his passing on August 4, 2007. Mrs. Bender had worked as a secretary for the Chicago Pneumatic Company in Utica, retiring in 1953. Alice had a strong faith in God and was a member of Holy Spirit Polish National Church in Little Falls. To all who knew her she was a soft spoken, caring and an independent lady who made friends easily. She will be greatly missed. Surviving is a cousin, Walter Malkowicz of Amsterdam, and dear friends Ray and Liz Eaton of Ilion, Vernon and Elbert Loucks of Fayetteville. Besides her parents and husband Charles she was preceded by a sister Helen Nelson in 1969 and a cousin Louise Kubas. Calling hours for Mrs. Bender will be on Wednesday from 2:00 until 5:00 pm in Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday morning at 10:00 am in the Holy Spirit Polish National Church, Little Falls, with the Reverend Rafael Dadello, Pastor officiating. Interment will be later this spring in the Holy Spirit Polish National Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the American Heart Fund. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.