Harriet Bonini 1907-2008

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PORT ORANGE, Fla. - Maria Celeste Erica Emilia "Harriet" Bonini, 100, entered the Heavenly Church Triumphant on Thursday morning, Sept. 25, 2008.

She was born Dec. 17, 1907, in Prima Luna, Italy. She lived in Italy until she was 12 years old when she, her mother and siblings immigrated to America. They settled in Cherry Valley, Pa., with her father who had come before them and moved to Ohio in 1927.

She attended Eagle Creek Chapel - formally Leavittsburg Evangelical Congregational Church - where she was a lay delegate for 15 years, Sunday school teacher, on the Board of Trustees and did missionary work. She was also a member of the Women's Relief Corps Bell-Harmon 58 for over 25 years, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and several other clubs and organizations. She was also honored with a certificate of appreciation in 1993 in recognition of voting consistently for 50 years.

She was a hard worker, working at GE, Mullins Manufacturing and the Tank Plant on Larchmont before she and her sister became co-owners of the Warren Florist and Greenhouse from 1950 to 1961.

She lived in the Elms Apartments for many years before she moved to the Epiphany Manor in Florida in 2000 to be closer to her children. In Florida, when she was older than 90 years old she became very active in the Port Orange senior center where she loved to play bingo.

She also attended First Presbyterian Church in Daytona, and at the age of 98 was a graduate of Bible Study Fellowship which she attended for six years. Throughout her life she had many hobbies and interests. She was an avid New York Yankees fan, she enjoyed traveling, gardening, crocheting, playing cards and bingo, doing crossword puzzles, baking cookies, reading and studying the Bible.

She is survived by her children, Gloria Gintert and son Charles Bonini and his wife, Janice; seven grandchildren, Lee Gintert, Roger Gintert, Chuck Gintert, Brian Gintert, Laurie Gintert, Erica Cuneo and her husband, Steve Cuneo, and Chad Bonini and his wife, Shari; and three great-grandchildren, Micaela, Mariah and Nate Cuneo.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles Bonini; her siblings, Peter Colciaghi and Mary Yaugo; her son-in-law, Harold Gintert and her granddaughter, Diane Lynn Gintert.

Calling hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Peter Rossi & Son Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Gerald Davison officiating.

Burial will be at Crown Hill Burial Park in Vienna. A memorial service will be held at the Daytona Beach First Presbyterian Church at a later date in October.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Eagle Creek Church, P.O. 338, Leavittsburg 44430.

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