Bonnie M. Swartz, 89 years, of LaSalle, Michigan, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, May 7, 2023 in her home with family.
Bonnie's greatest accomplishment was raising her six daughters with her husband, Ron.
She loved God and shared her faith with her daughters, 26 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and the community. She will be remembered with many laughs from summer vacations camping up north, playing poker with her grandchildren and fun times with her sisters and brothers around our kitchen table.
Bonnie had a tremendous career as a Designated Social Worker and Patient Advocate at Monroe and Frenchtown Convalescent Centers. She was compassionate, empathetic and cared deeply for the patients she worked with. She was artistic, creative and enjoyed interior design as a hobby. She was a published author, enjoyed creating flower arrangements and a tremendous homemaker and cook.
She traveled to Rome with her husband, Ron, for the ordination of their grandson and enjoyed spending winters in Oregon with their daughter and grandchildren as well as traveling to Ireland, Mexico and many states throughout the US. Bonnie was a woman who appreciated the simple things in life, had strong morals, faith and dedication to her family and friends. She often told her daughters that one of her proudest accomplishments was going against many obstacles and fighting her way to join the Catholic Church as a young 16-year-old girl.
A 1952 graduate of Monroe High School, Bonnie married Ron on August 27, 1955 and they were married for 65 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ron, in 2020, and her parents Becky & Levi Moyers, her sister Bertha, and her brothers Marshall and John. She is survived by daughters, Theresa Vandendriesche of Medford, OR, Kathy (Don) Conklin of Suwanee, GA, Anne (Mike) Foor of Milan, MI, Susan Swartz of Milan, MI, Patricia (Chris) Cook of Ida, MI, and Judy (Kyle) Harris of Luna Pier, MI, and her sister, Betty Cowley of Albuquerque, NM. Bonnie and Ron built the perfect family with beautiful memories and their daughters are heartbroken to lose their parents.
On Thursday, May 11, 2023, she will lie in state from 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2214 Manhattan St., Erie, MI, 48133, where Mass of the Resurrection, celebrating Bonnie's life will begin at 11:00 am. Bonnie's grandson Fr. Ronald Conklin will be the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Erie.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Shrine of Divine Mercy, 2 Prospect Hill Rd., Stockbridge, MA, 01262 or Sacred Heart Apostolic School, 5901 N. 500 E. Rolling Prairie, IN 46371.
Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, MI, 48161, is assisting Bonnie's family with arrangements.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary page at www.bacarellafuneralhome.com .