08/23/2025
Jean E. Bender-Mast, beloved businesswoman and pastor’s wife, passed away on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at her home in Clarence after a brief battle with acute leukemia. She was 95.
Born July 20, 1930, in Akron, New York, Jean was the eldest and first grandchild of John and F***y Bontrager, and the daughter of their firstborn, Chris Bontrager and his wife Viola (Albrecht). She grew up in Akron and graduated from Akron High School in 1948. After taking secretarial courses, she worked for her uncle Johnny Bontrager at Town Line Lumber prior to her marriage.
In 1951, Jean married Rev. Richard E. Bender and faithfully served alongside him as a pastor’s wife and bible study leader. Recognizing the need for quality Bible study resources, she co-founded Bender’s Christian Supplies in 1953. Under her leadership, the small living room operation grew into one of the largest independently owned Christian bookstores in the nation. The store thrived for 70 years, operating at several Transit Road locations and a Niagara Falls Boulevard branch before settling at its final site on Sheridan Drive. In 1986, the business received the Christian Booksellers Association “Store of the Year” award, a crowning achievement in Jean’s career.
Later that same year, Jean fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening the Country Oven, an old-fashioned bakery in Clarence known for its homemade pies, breads, cookies, muffins, and especially cinnamon rolls—all crafted without preservatives or mixes. The bakery later expanded to serve lunches with homemade soups and sandwiches, pioneering a bookstore–café concept years ahead of its time.
A woman of deep and abiding faith, Jean devoted her life to Scripture and prayer, reading through the Bible annually from the age of 75 onward. She grew up attending Alden Mennonite Church and, with Richard, helped establish a church plant on Harding Avenue that later became Harris Hill Mennonite Church. In later years, she worshiped with Clarence Center-Akron Mennonite Church locally, and Bayshore Mennonite Church and Sarasota Community Church during winters in Florida.
Following Richard’s passing in 1997, Jean remarried in 2002 to John I. Mast. Together they enjoyed “snowbird” years between Sarasota, Florida, and Clarence, New York, where Jean continued to bake, host, and cherish her time with family and friends.
Jean is survived by her three children, Sheryl (Raymond) Slingerland of Williamsville, Arden (Joanne) Bender of Clarence, and Dale (Sue) Bender of Chambersburg, PA; two brothers, G. Edwin (Edie) Bontrager of Harrisonburg, VA, and Dennis (Alice) Bontrager of Sarasota, FL; nine grandchildren, Jesse Slingerland, Jamie (Ruth) Slingerland, Jonathan (Linda) Slingerland, Jordan Slingerland, Jacalyn (Michael) Modrzynski, Justin (Elizabeth) Bender, Michael (Abigail) Bender, Lake (Alesha) Bender, and Cade (Katelyn) Bender; and 11 great-grandchildren, Diego, Cecilia, Emilio, Jovany, Alejandra, Santiago, Tomás, Robin, Noah, Graham, and Atlee. She is also survived by her four step children, Clifford Mast (Shirley) of Lancaster, PA, Jon Mast (Teresa) of Sarasota, FL, Jerald Mast (Terri) of Winter Garden, FL, and Mary Makal (Andrew) of Land O’Lakes, FL; nine step grandchildren, Ryan Mast, Derek Mast, Cameron Mast, Tabitha Diaz (Hector), Shelby Mast (Matthew Mason), Tyler Mast, Jennifer Buckner (Bonner), Courtney Makal and Kasey Makal; and 7 step great-grandchildren, Rainee, Emerson, Addie, Cassie, Odessa, Ethan and James. She is also remembered by many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Richard, and her brother, Merlin.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Clarence Center-Akron Mennonite Church, 11500 Clarence Center Rd, Akron, NY 14001, or Northgate Community Church, 5225 Harris Hill Rd, Williamsville, NY 14221.
The family will be present on Tuesday, August 26th from 4-8 PM at Northgate Community Church and a service celebrating Jean’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 27, at Northgate Community Church. Arrangements by Amigone Funeral Home, Harris Hill Chapel.
