I was informed by Michele Soleau Wallace that Bonnie passed away at 12:15 a.m. on 6/25/2019. She wanted me to post this to our website. Further information on arrangements when I have it. RIP Bonnie.
"With a broken heart, I have to say my friend died today at 12:15 am. Bonnie Grillo will be missed by us all. On 6/6, her birthday she and I celebrated our 39th year of friendship. On the day we met our hearts became sisters. She was: my confidant my cohort my inspiration my barometer my partner in crime. We had so much fun with each other, no matter what we did together. She was artistic, loved to read, a loving wife and mother, wonderful person and friend. She loved finding a good bargain and taught me a lot about frugality. It has only been 60 days from diagnosis to last day. So we have not had much time to absorb the idea of her illness let alone that she is no longer on this earth. Recently I went to the farmer's market and an Amish artist had pencil drawings that she had done. One picture was of a broken flower pot laying on it's side with some planting tools along side. It said Be grateful, even when your pot is broken. When I told her that my pot was pretty broken right now, she gave me that card and I will keep it as a reminder. I am so grateful that God wanted us to be friends that day 39 years ago. I WILL MISS YOU EVERY DAY."
Obituary added on 7/4/2019.
Nancy Stoner (Stover)
Bonnie was a longtime childhood friend from the neighborhood. She attended Harvard Elementary and I attended. O.L.P.H. We walked to and from school every day with fellow classmates Donna (Bolin) Helle, and Kathy (Sutphin) DeMolet. On the way we would often meet up and walk to and from school with Diane (Mauk) Davis who lived in closer proximity to Bowsher. Sometimes we enjoyed a (joy) ride to school with Donna's brother Paul in his Rambler when he became a licensed driver. Bonnie grew up as an only adopted daughter and upon her adult son's urging, Chris learned that she was the eldest of nine children. Coincidentally they attended Start High School our rival. Please see Bonnie's three-part story in her profile upon learning of her biological family. It is heartwarming. Rest in peace my dear friend of many decades.
Nancy (Stoner) Stover
Michele Soleau (Wallace)
Thanks for your memories, Nancy.
Kathleen Sutphin (DeMolet)
Thank you both; very touching memories. I too remember times in the neighborhood when we would all be together. Back then worries were few - and we really had some fun times. Poor Bonnie, being an only child she couldn't get away with much; not like the rest of us. I met up with her on one of our trips coming home from the eastern shore back when she still lived in Maryland. We had a great time catching up and the restaurant staff was cleaning up all around us getting ready to close and we still had a lot to say. Grateful we could both take the time for a nice visit. We can never plan for that last time. Now more than ever it's important to enjoy what and who we have. High school is a special time and I'm sure there are more memories of friends than we could ever count. How fortunate we are!
Michele Soleau (Wallace)
Thanks Kathy. I have decided that I really don't want to know when my lasts will actually be. Michele
Clifford Ott
I knew Bonnie from Harvard school and the south end neighborhood. I don't think she cared for me much back then; that's okay...not many of my peers did. I deserved all of that back then because of the big terror I was, but I recall Bonnie was ALWAYS sweet to me. I liked her. I did not know she was artistic. Can someone "post" something of what she has done?(cliff ott)
Michael Mason
I got to know Bonnie my senior year ,I wish I wouldn't have
been to shy to have got to know her better.
RIP Bonnie
Linda Hancock (Emch)
What a beautiful tribute Michelle. Bonnie had a beautiful soul inside and out. We must cherish our friends always.
Michele Soleau (Wallace)
Thanks to you all for making your kind comments. Here is an example of her artwork. The beads that she used to make these 3 bracelets are actually paper that is rolled, then coated to make each one waterproof. She made necklaces and earrings, too. She was having a lot of fun with these and she supplied the beads to a couple of jewelry makers in SC. She was also a decorative painter but I am sorry to say that I don't have any of her work.