Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Stengel Bond died in Austin, Texas on October 19, 2014. An elegant, down-to-earth, proud, and private woman, she lacked self-importance and accepted life as it came along. Literature was her love, as well as art, movies, and all the performing arts.
One example of Liz's quiet determination showed when she was eighty years old and walked halfway across Manhattan in the rain, fiercely battling the crowds in order to make curtain for a Broadway play. (She made it.)
Liz was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania on November 15, 1922. Her parents, Helen Toppy Stengel and Leo Samuel Stengel, moved from Pennsylvania to Albany, New York when she was very young. In Albany, she attended Vincentian High School, and later received a BA degree from Albany State College for Teachers, which was part of the State University of New York. She taught English and history in New York State, worked in advertising in New York City, and then taught at Lago High School in Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, where she met her future husband, Oliver James "Jim" Bond IV.
Liz married Jim in 1952. They lived in Bronxville and Yonkers, New York; in Yokohama, Japan; and in Bahrain Island in the Persian Gulf. Liz, Jim, and their seven children moved from New York to Houston, Texas, in 1967. In Houston, Liz taught English at Duchesne Academy, Memorial High School, and Houston Community College. She also earned her MA degree in English from the University of Houston.
Liz retired from teaching in 1994, and then became a certified Parish Social Minister who volunteered at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Houston. She was a member of the church's Women's Club, the American Association of University Women, and three book groups. She was also active in the Democratic Party and served as an election worker. Liz loved travelling, especially spending summers in England, Wales, and Italy when Jim worked there.
A scholar in many ways, Liz also loved clothes, scarves, Chanel No. 5, candy corn, the Mary Tyler Moore show, and reading Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine mysteries. Her intelligence, wit, style, and compassion live on in her family and friends; in her former students; and in the recipients of her volunteerism.
In addition to Jim, Liz is survived by her daughters Cynthia Bond; Felicia Bond; and Carolyn Bond Fairless and husband Carter; sons Oliver J. "Jay" Bond and wife Ilene McGarrigle; Daniel S. Bond; Leo S. Bond and wife Carla. Her son, Roger Taylor Bond, preceded her in death. She also leaves grandchildren Julia Bond, Andrew Bond, Brendan Bond, Lee Fairless, and Elizabeth Fairless. Other survivors are her sisters Eleanor Burns, Dorothy Stengel, and Helen Gaige.
A memorial service - open house reception will be held Saturday, November 8, 2014, 3:00 to 4:30 pm at Westminster Manor (solarium on 5th floor) 4100 Jackson Ave, Austin, TX 512-454-4711 http://westminsteraustintx.org/map-directions.html. A Memorial service will be held Friday, November 14, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at S. John Vianney Catholic Church Chapel, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, Texas 77079. A reception will immediately follow the service in the St. Jude Hall, http://www.stjohnvianney.org/about-us/maps-directions/.
In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions to the American Association of University Women – West Harris County Branch, P. O. Box 821125, Houston, TX 77282-1125 or to the charity of their choice.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Hospice Austin, New Century Hospice, and the Arbour at Westminster in Austin for the care they provided Liz.
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