Alyse Michelle Blend

Alyse Michelle Blend

January 11, 1995 – January 1, 2025

“Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything.”

C.S. Lewis

Alyse is the beloved daughter of Jennifer and Ron Bender, sister to Kristien, Branden, Nadia, Amelia and Levi.  Beloved Aunt to many nieces and nephews and is loved by a large extended family.  Alyse is the love of Liam’s life and will be missed beyond measure.

Alyse was born in Southern Maryland and lived there until the age of 11.  Her family moved to West Virginia in 2006.  Alyse embraced the mountains and loved all creatures great and small.  Alyse moved to Delaware in 2017 to be with Liam and was well loved and cared for with his family.  Their family dog “Toby” is missing his best buddy.

Alyse was endlessly creative, artistic, and had a great love of animals.  She loved the outdoors and nature and had a knack for saving and reviving plants most people would have given up on or thrown away.  She created beautiful art in everything that she did; from hand sewing entire dresses with no pattern, to her sketches, elaborate braids for her hair and paintings.  She was also very proud of her handmade frog house that stands alongside her little pond in Delaware.

If you were friends with Alyse, you would know her by her fierce love and loyalty to the people she cared for.  She was intelligent, funny and a wonderful friend, daughter, aunt and sister.

Alyse worked at Concord Pet and Food Supplies and we know her coworkers will miss her dearly.

Alyse will also be remembered by her boyfriend Liam and his family.  She always described Liam as “her person” and his love for Alyse was displayed so clearly.  He cared for her so well.

Alyse never enjoyed being the center of attention.  As an introvert through and through you might not have seen her around for long at the Blender or Delucia family gatherings, but when she wasn’t hiding away for a little break from all the people you would have thoroughly enjoyed her company and conversation.  The space she leaves in our family and our hearts is significant.

Alyse never fully appreciated how unique and amazing she is.  Alyse was greeted into heaven by her little brother, Levi.  We are confident Alyse was greeted by one of Levi’s famous hugs.  We know they are truly living the best part of their lives.  No more pain, no more tears, pure love, pure joy.

A celebration of life will be held at Simpson Creek Baptist Church in Bridgeport, WV on February 1, 2025 at noon.  Visitation will be from 10:00am – 12:00pm.  For those that would like to honor Alyse’s life, go to a garden or hardware store and find the saddest looking plant you can and try to b ring it back to life.  That would have made Alyse very happy.  Alyse also cared about supporting animals in need of shelter.  Please send any funds you would have spent on flowers or memorial items to Greenmore Rescue.  Their website is www.greenmorerescue.org.

Where there is deep love there is deep grief, and we loved Alyse so very deeply.

“Love Came First”

Donna Ashworth

“You don’t move on after loss, but you must move with.  You must shake hands with grief, welcome her in, for she lives with you now.  Pull her a chair at the table and offer her comfort.  She is not the monster you first thought her to be.  She is love.  And she will walk with you now, stay with you now, peacefully.  If you let her.  And on the days when your anger is high, remember why she came and what she represents.  Remember.  Grief came to you my friend because love came first.  Love came first.”

Dorsey Funeral Home is honored to be handling the arrangements for the Bender family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Alyse Michelle Blend, please visit our floral store.