Elaine Bender

AUGUSTA – Elaine Bender of Hallowell, Maine, 89, passed away unexpectedly on June 5, 2022, after a brief illness. She was born in Skowhegan, Maine on Dec. 1, 1932, to Eula Berry Gagne (Lee) and Joseph N. Gagne. She was raised in Hallowell by her mother and stepfather, Harland Lee.Elaine graduated from Hallowell High School in 1951. She moved out of Maine after high school and after stops in upstate New York and New Jersey, she settled in Alexandria, Virginia. She married William R. Bender in 1960 and divorced in 1972. She worked for over 35 years as a reservations agent for the airline industry, starting with American Airlines, then spent most of her career with United Airlines from which she retired in 1996. Following her retirement, she returned to Hallowell, Maine to be close to her extended family.Elaine was predeceased by her parents, her stepfather, her brother Joseph Gagne, sisters-in-law Patricia and Lorraine Gagne, and brother-in-law Donald Young. She is survived by her daughter Marykay Bender Queener and her husband Eugene Queener, sister Linda Young, grandchildren Ryan Penic, Nikolas Penic, Jamie Queener, Alexandra (Queener) Neifert and her husband Stewart Neifert, and great-grandaughter Eleanor Mae Neifert and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews who she loved as her “bonus children and grandchildren.” Elaine had a lifelong passion for music. She never had a music lesson but taught herself to play the piano in her teens and continued playing for pleasure throughout her life. After returning to Maine in 1996, Elaine began playing easy listening swing music of the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s at the Cohen Senior Center as a volunteer. Then in the year 2000, Elaine started the Swingtime Band with a group of very talented professional musicians and continued to play as a group until early 2022. Swingtime began by playing the same easy listening swing music mostly at nursing homes and as their reputation spread, they played at many venues throughout Maine including the Augusta Civic Center, Jewett Hall, the Blaine Mansion, Old Hallowell Days, Hallowell Rock on the River, the Veteran’s Home, and Togus Veteran’s Hospital to name a few. Elaine loved playing music and leading the Swingtime Band, which became a second career and brought so much joy to her and to the many fans of the Swingtime Band.In addition to her passion for music, Elaine was a dedicated viewer of Jeopardy, avid crossword puzzle solver and lover of jigsaw puzzles. Condolences, fond memories and photos may be shared at http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com. Per Elaine’s final wishes, no services are planned at this time. A private celebration of life for family and friends will be planned later in the summer. Arrangements are under the care of Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home and Cremation Care 1 Church St. Augusta, 623-8722.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Spectrum Generations, 22 Town Farm Road,Hallowell, ME 04347in memory of Elaine Bender.