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Stead, Bonnie Louise With her loving and heartbroken family surrounding her, the sudden and unexpected death of Bonnie Louise Stead (Blaney) occurred on Saturday, July 13th at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Bonnie, who grew up in Keswick Ridge, NB, and was born on September 30, 1952, the daughter of the late Lloyd and Louise (Graham) Blaney. She was part of a loving sibling group of five, including Ralph Blaney, David Blaney, Brenda (Blaney) Haney and Arthur Blaney and was also loved by her sisters-in-law, Cathy Blaney, the late Diane Blaney, Shirley Stead and brother-in-law, David Haney. Bonnie was the proud and loving aunt to Angela (Blaney) Whitlock, Natalie (Blaney) Marsh, Christopher Blaney, Tarah Blaney, Ryan Blaney, Monique Blaney, Christine (Haney) Makowichuk, Elizabeth Haney, Randy Stead and Sharon Stead. She was predeceased by her in-laws, George and Sadie Stead, who thought the world of their caring daughter-in-law and was also pre-deceased by her brothers-in-law, Arthur Stead and Svend Stead. Bonnie moved to Prince Edward Island in 1975, to begin her Nursing career, of whom many those cared for by Bonnie, spoke fondly of her empathetic and caring bedside manner, even years later. She made a loving impact on everyone around her, where she 'dug deep' into the lives of others. Later she met and married the love of her life, Wesley George Stead and on June 5, 1976, they began their married life in Upton where they raised their one and only child, Chrystal (Stead) MacDonald. Bonnie deeply loved her son-in-law, Randy MacDonald and her eyes further lit up with joy as she was blessed to become the grandmother of Micah, Karyss and Landon MacDonald; of whom will miss their 'Grammie Bonnie' very much and will also miss her loving notes of encouragement, prayers and giggles. Her eyes always lit up brightly, whenever she saw her beloved grandchildren, whether it was after a long time-no-see visit or if they returned to the room after leaving to go grab a drink of water. She always bestowed lavish love upon them and into their lives and would excitedly call them by name with a twinkle in her eye and love in her tender voice, each time they were in her presence. Bonnie and Wesley went through many hills and valleys in their marriage and fully lived out their marriage vows of in sickness and in health, following the result of her devastating car accident in 1982 when she was hit by an impaired driver, on her way to her nursing shift at the Kings County Memorial Hospital. This forever changed the trajectory of Bonnie's life and she lived these past 42 years, following the accident, with many struggles but also with beautiful resilience. Recently, Bonnie and Wesley celebrated their 48th Wedding Anniversary, still holding hands together, still singing hymns with one another during their "road running" trips, still laughing together and still buying only one take-out meal of which they'd always share, especially fish and chips from Stellas' Dining. They weathered a lot of "water under the bridge" and their family and all who knew them, looked at their commitment to one another as a beautiful thing to bear witness to. In the past year, following a long hospital stay at her beloved KCMH, where she would "sharpen those nurses up at the nurse's station" with humour and share stories of her former nursing days, Bonnie became a resident of the Colville Manor in Souris. While in her new "home away from home" she enjoyed numerous day trips home to Upton with her "Wes" and quiet time in her room watching her Reba and Little House on the Prairie DVD's, also enjoying one on one visits with the staff. Whether they painted her nails, read to her from her favourite poetry book of Helen Steiner Rice or snuck her in an extra cookie at mealtime, she delighted in those visits. Her family are very thankful for the excellent care she received at Colville Manor and at the KCMH. Bonnie's family are also very grateful for the compassionate care provided to her, over the years following her traumatic brain injury, by her family Physician, Dr. Holland and her Psychiatrist, Dr. Spears. It takes a village to care for people and to build one another up and her family are so grateful to all those friends, extended family and care givers who did just that for our beloved 'Bon Bons.' We will miss you so much, mom. There won't be a brown eyed susan or daisy growing in a field or a colourful purse at Value Village or New To You, that we'll see that won't remind us of you. Nor a note or card with your one-of-a kind penmanship, that we won't savour the words you wrote to us, showering us with your great love. Many an encouraging note to many a person you wrote, over the years and that shows who you were; a woman of great love, who had great compassion for others. You showed us this in so many thoughtful ways and lived a life, demonstrating that the "little things" really are the "big things." Walk with Jesus, mom. You will always be loved, this side of heaven until we see you again. No visiting hours by Bonnie's own request. Resting at the Dingwell Funeral Home. Funeral service to be held on, Thursday, July 18th, 3 p.m. at the Upton Gospel Chapel, 715 Clay Rd. Burial to thereafter follow in the Old Dundas Acorn Cemetery. Donations accepted, if so desired, to the Old Dundas Acorn Cemetery fund. Better yet? Spread kindness, love, humour, and encouragement to anyone you meet, especially to those walking this world with mental health struggles. Do these loving acts of kindness, in Bonnie's memory. The world around us, greatly needs this kindness and it needs more people to love others like Bonnie did. Also, if Bonnie's life meant something to you, may you never forget the importance of continuing to eradicate impaired driving. Her life was forever altered as a result from one impaired driver making the horrible decision to get behind the wheel. May her memory, ever be a present reminder that the world around us, needs impaired driving to end and that everyone regardless of any action, needs grace and compassion. Online condolences can be made at: www.dingwellfh.ca
Published on July 16, 2024in The Guardian
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