Marjorie Bundens

      Marjorie Jean Bundens, 95, of Lancaster, died May 6, 2019 at Hospice & Community Care after a brief stay. Born in Clarksboro, NJ, Marge was the daughter of the late Roswell and Muriel (Bickford) Lewis. She married Roy Bundens, her first and only sweetheart, during WWII and spent nearly 72 years with him till his death in 2013.

     Early married life was filled with the joys and sorrows of raising a young family, but as time went on Marjorie realized she wanted more. So at the age of 38, she entered Millersville College, being at that time the only “older” woman enrolled. While teaching, Marjorie continued her education, and became a pioneer in the teaching of emotionally disturbed children in Lancaster County. After retirement, she continued to volunteer in the public schools for many years. Marge’s creativity and sewing and crafts skills were a thread that wove its way throughout her life. The daughters in the family benefited by having beautiful matching Easter outfits; the granddaughters had the best Barbie wardrobes and Cabbage Patch dolls ever, as well as a grand 10-room dollhouse. During her teaching years, her creativity was put to educational use, including developing her own reading curriculum.  After Marge and Roy got an apartment at Homestead Village, she discovered their craft program had fallen by the wayside. So of course she stepped up, and led the program back to success until she had to give up the reins as her arthritis got worse. Marjorie and her husband Roy were long time members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster. Helping with religious education was how she discovered her talents for teaching, and in both early and later years the church was a beneficiary of her craft skills.

     Marjorie is survived by two daughters, Bonnie, widow of the late Dorsey Howard Jr., of Harrisburg, and Dianne, wife of Dennis Stenerson, of Rockford, IL; grandchildren Jennifer (Calvin) Rosenberry of Harrisburg, Dorsey M. (Jenna) Howard of Tennessee, Nicole Howard and Susan (Tony) Cline of Florida, Kristen Weiss (Alex Padamsee) of England, and Valerie Stenerson of Rockford, IL; and four great-grandchildren: Ashley and Taylor Cline, and Maya and Keira Padamsee. Besides her husband, Marjorie was preceded in death by her two sons, Robert Frank “Butch” and Roy Phillip “Phil” Bundens; she was the youngest and last survivor of five siblings.

     A memorial service to celebrate Marge’s life will be held in the Glassford Room at Homestead Village, 1800 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster, PA on Sunday, June 23, 2019 at 2:00 PM. The family will greet friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Unitarian Church of Lancaster, 538 W Chestnut St Lancaster, Pa 17603, or to the Homestead Village Endowment Fund: mail to Homestead Village, Inc., The Office of the President, 1800 Village Circle, Lancaster, PA 17603.