Arliene "Toby" Bender, 85, of Sandy Hook, formerly of Fairfield, wife of the late Clark Bender, died peacefully December 29 at St Vincent's Medical Center. Born in Bridgeport, she had been a Fairfield resident for most of her life prior to moving to Sandy Hook 25 years ago.

Mrs Bender was a 1951 graduate of Roger Ludlowe High School and devoted her life to raising her five beloved children. She was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother who always placed the needs of others before her own. She loved animals of all kinds and always looked forward to working around her yard and feeding the birds.

Her children, who will miss her dearly, Deborah Bender of Evansville, Ind.; Kym Bender-Schmidt and her husband Wayne of Shelton; Heidi Bender Verrillo of Fairfield; Norman Bender and his wife Wendy of Sandy Hook; and Adrianne "Dee Dee" Byrnes and her husband Ron of Cheshire; as well as six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren survive her.

Her mother, Helen Barrett; and a son-in-law, Bruce Verrillo, predeceased her.

A gathering to celebrate Mrs Bender's life will be conducted Friday, January 5, from noon to 2 pm, in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. Interment will follow in Lawncroft Cemetery, Fairfield.

To offer an online condolence, visit spearmillerfuneralhome.com.