Saunders – Mark Kristian
Born March 4, 1973. Passed away March 18, 2025.
In Loving Memory of Mark Kristian Saunders
4 March 1973 - 18 March 2025
Farewell, my beautiful husband.
What a wonderful life we have had together. Laughter, love and adventures. I will always treasure these happy times. My heart has broken in so many ways. I miss you beyond words.
May your soul rest and recover.
With all my love,
Katherine xx
Mark passed away peacefully at Cabrini Hospital on 18 March 2025, aged 52.
Eldest son of Irene & Terry (dec), loving brother and brother in law of Glenn and Karin and Uncle to Oliver.
Your bright smile, warm laughter, and kind heart brought joy and happiness to our lives, and the love you shared with us will always be cherished. Rest peacefully dear Mark—you will forever be in our hearts.
Saunders, Mark Kristian
4 March 1973- 18 March 2025
Son-in-law of Andree Klopsteins and Harry (dec.)
Brother-in-law of Adam, Jonathan and Amanda and extended families
Loved Husband of Katherine
May the river carry him to peaceful waters, where the fish are always biting.
Funeral notice
Service
March 28, 2025 - 1:00pm
A Memorial Service to Celebrate the Life of Mr Mark Kristian Saunders will be held at the N J Todd Funeral Home, 81 Baddaginnie-Benalla Road, Benalla on Friday 28th March, 2025 commencing at 1.00 pm.
A private family Burial will have preceded the Memorial Service.
To Livestream Memorial Service, go to the N J Todd Website and follow the Links.
Tributes
Leave a tributeFebruary 28, 2026 4:09 pm
RIP Mark
So sad to hear of your passing
You were a true gentleman and I so enjoyed our discussion over the years at Glen Eira
Go the Blues
HenryApril 18, 2025 9:43 pm
So sad to hear of the untimely passing of Mark, who I worked with at GECC. As a colleague Mark was always supportive, professional, respectful and well informed in his area of expertise. As a person, Mark was so kind, gentle, thoughtful and friendly. I send my deepest sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues. Rest in peace dear Mark.
April 18, 2025 11:29 am
I'm not sure I can really express how much I appreciated your support during our time together at Glen Eira. You challenged me when I needed it, you lifted me up when I doubted myself and always, always had my back. We could fight and argue and still would leave the room laughing. I will always consider you one of the biggest influences in my worklife and can't thank you enough for all you did for me.
March 31, 2025 4:19 pm
Mark may you rest in peace. So sad you were taken so soon. It was such a pleasure working with you over 25 years. I’ll miss our chats as will everyone else that worked with you. RIP.
March 30, 2025 10:03 pm
I am so honoured to have worked with you at Glen Eira. Your dedication to your job and the community did not go unnoticed. You always had your door open and time for anyone and everyone.
The Covid years were tough and it was amazing to be part of the response team. The things we did for the community!
Your leadership for the Family and Children’s services team as we managed a very challenging time was considered and supportive but most overall it was empathetic.
Forever in my heart.
Condolences to Katherine and family. Thank you for sharing Mark with us.
Gone fishing xMarch 28, 2025 8:53 pm
Farewell and RIP Mark
Every soul has to taste death.You will be missed
March 28, 2025 6:22 pm
Farewell snd RIP Mark.
Every soul shall taste death.
You were charming and lively. Will be missed heavilyMarch 28, 2025 6:15 pm
I will always be grateful for the support you gave me in work & the laughs we had together. Rest in peace Mark.
March 28, 2025 5:24 pm
Thank you for your support, leadership, trust & many opportunities you gave me while working with you as part of Family Youth & Children’s Services. I strongly believe we were the best team in Council & you recognised early on that we were all experienced & capable. This allowed you to be a mentor to countless others at Glen Eira. Your office was rarely empty & we sometimes had to book a time or request staff from other departments to leave you in peace so we could discuss something with you. You were always in demand & generally you loved it!
I have missed the Happy Hours, varied conversations & guaranteed laughs. It was a pleasure to work with you.
Sincere condolences to Katherine & family.
Rest in peace Mark
Cheers, Kathryn
March 28, 2025 4:41 pm
Way too young Mr Carlton
March 28, 2025 3:02 pm
RIP Mark
March 28, 2025 2:43 pm
So great to see Mark’s happy face in all those awesome pics and hear about his life. I always wanted to play pool like him. a beautiful send off, but far too early. love Al xxx
March 28, 2025 2:38 pm
Farewell Mark - I have very fond memories of our many years of working together. Your legacy will live on.
Vale MarkMarch 28, 2025 1:31 pm
Dearest Mark, you've had a profound impact on me as a mentor during my time at Glen Eira. Your lessons in leadership have stood the test of time, and I will forever remember the times we had together. Rest in peace.
March 28, 2025 1:30 pm
You will be so missed Mark. Your fun and cheerful nature and just all round good guy vibes. Condolences to family and friends. Mark is one of the good ones and will be in our hearts forever.
March 28, 2025 1:05 pm
Will treasure many memories of you. You were taken too soon. You will be greatly missed and forever remembered.
March 28, 2025 1:01 pm
My deepest condolences go out to Katherine, the extended family and friends of Mark. I worked together with Mark for more than 20 years and I can honestly say I never heard him speak a bad word about anyone, he was one of the most decent and lovely people I have known and he will be missed enormously. People like Mark are rare treasures and his gentlemanly nature and consideration and care for everyone will be forever remembered. Gone too soon. RIP Mark, you were loved and will be missed dearly. Margaret Esakoff
March 28, 2025 10:18 am
Deep condolences to Mark's loved ones - Katherine, his family, friends and colleagues. I had the privilege of working with Mark over many years in local government land. His commitment, care, gentle humour and integrity shone brightly. So sad to know he was so ill at such a young age. Vale Mark
March 28, 2025 10:12 am
So young. So very sad. Rest in peace Mark.
March 28, 2025 1:51 am
We only worked together for a short time, but I was immediately struck by your passion for your work and your obvious care for people. I always enjoyed our discussions about the important decisions that we were considering on behalf of the community of Glen Eira. Vale Mark
March 27, 2025 12:15 pm
Yes we had our moments of disagreement. I think we both enjoyed the back and forth. But I remain always grateful for your support during some difficult personal times and always to the programs I looked after for the seniors. Deepest sympathy to your family. Gone too soon. RIP Mark
Cheryl KennedyMarch 26, 2025 10:54 am
Whenever I make my regular trips to Yarrawonga - via Benalla - I will always think fondly of you. Thank you for being such a huge influence in the 4 years I have known you.
March 26, 2025 9:06 am
SAUNDERS! how I'll miss the endless discussions on where and how the fish are biteing and the time we both put into discussing the merits of Ford vs Holden. RIP mate.
Sincere condolences to Katherine and extended family.
March 25, 2025 12:01 pm
Wonderful memories of our times together in Adelaide Mark.
Wrapping our love around Kath now and always .
Fondest,
Adam, Anita, Oscar and Wil Klopsteins xxxxMarch 25, 2025 10:54 am
Mark1/Uncle-Marky/Saundog/Captain-Safety-Blanket/Bro-in-law......
We miss the jokes, random sing-a-longs, and arguments on how best sail a yacht whist trolling for fish.
May the peacefulness surpass even a Cid-Harbour sunset.
Love Amanda, Mark2, and Harley xxxMarch 24, 2025 6:06 pm
I am very late to say a few words.
My son recently started a graduate program, that caused me to recall the first graduate I ever had charge of, when I was a young Environmental Health Officer in Cobram, Victoria, back in the mid-1990's
The young bloke we chose to come work with us for 8 weeks was Mark Saunders, I recall then aged about 20.
To see this news is very saddening, and surprisingly so. I say that because I had only seen Mark once in those passing 30 plus years, at a local government gig about 15 years ago.
But still after all these years, finding this news just today took me aback and made me very sad to hear his passing.
As is being reflected by many here, he obviously hadn't changed - he was vivacious, charming, funny and a genuinely great human being - and like back then, seems like he just kept smiling and thinking the best of people.
This is so sad. Rest in Peace Mark.