Gloria Benda

Gloria M. Benda, 89, of Pekin passed away peacefully at 1:00 pm Saturday, January 6, 2024 in her home accompanied by her daughter. Gloria was born September 22, 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri to Charles and Frieda (Rossmann) Bauer. She married Charles H. Benda on April 24, 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri. He preceded her in death on July 1, 2018. Surviving are two sons, Joseph (Bonita) Benda and Stephen (Sharon) Benda; three granddaughters, Allison (Joe) Wieczikowski; Rachael Benda (Sean Lemon); and Lily Benda (Kevin Donnelly);two step-grandchildren, Jake Ryan and Hannon Bernhard ; two great-grandchildren, Patrick Lemon and Avery Wieczikowski; all of St. Louis; and one daughter, Kathleen Benda of Pekin. Gloria was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where she had worked as the parish secretary for eight years. Among her many volunteer and professional positions, the job she found most meaningful was her four years spent as Long-Term Care Ombudsman at Senior Strength, working for the Center For Prevention Of Abuse and advocating for residents rights in nursing homes. A memorial Mass will be held at 10:30am Monday, January 15 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin, with Father Michael Andrejek as celebrant and Deacon Ernie Whited as homilist. Visitation will be one hour prior from 9:30 to 10:30am at the church. Inurnment will be at a later date at Park Lawn Cemetery in St. Louis. Glorias arrangements have been entrusted to Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory. Memorial contributions may be made to Sisters of St. Francis, Immaculate Conception Convent, 2408 West Heading Ave., West Peoria, Illinois 61604; or to the Center For Prevention Of Abuse, 720 West Joan Court, Peoria, Illinois 61614.