Benda, Marilyn

Marilyn Benda, 85, of 2134 Country Club Pkwy SE, died Sunday, April 1, 2012, at Willow Gardens Care Center, Marion. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 4, at All Saints Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, concelebrated by the Rev. Gerald Condon and the Rev. David O'Connor. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Guiher, and her children, Charlie Miller, Brandon Guiher and Brianna Guiher, all of the San Diego, Calif., area; her son, Larry (Joan) Benda, and their children, Jennifer (Derek) Gillaspie and Timothy (Sonya) Benda, all of Cedar Rapids, and Andrew (fiancee Ashley Eng) Benda of Vallejo, Calif.; and eight great-grandchildren.

Marilyn was born March 27, 1927, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Larry and Alma (Janish) Condon. She was a graduate of McKinley High School and the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism. She married Martin Benda in 1951. Marilyn taught in the Cedar Rapids Community School District for 32 years, including the old Van Buren, Fillmore, and the new Van Buren. She was a member of the local, state, and national education associations, the International Reading Association, the Cedar Rapids Woman's Club, and All Saints Catholic Church.

She loved playing bridge and having lunches with her dear friends.

Marilyn will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother; and husband, Martin in 1997.

Memorials are suggested to All Saints Catholic Church, Hospice of Mercy, or the charity of the donor's choice.

A sincere thank you to Hospice of Mercy, Dr. Nicole Collett, and the Mercy Medical Center nursing staff for the compassionate care they all provided to Marilyn during several stays.

Please sign the online guest book and share a memory about Marilyn at www.stewartbaxter.com.

Published April 2, 2012 in The Gazette