BONNIE M. GATES

Bonnie M. Gates of Mount Prospect The memorial service for Bonnie M. Gates, 55, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights, 1330 N. Douglas Ave. A brief graveside ceremony will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Arlington Heights. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at the Friedrichs Funeral Home, 320 W. Central Road (at Northwest Highway), Mount Prospect. She died Sunday evening, Sept. 20, 2009, at her home in Mount Prospect with her family by her side. She battled Breast Cancer for three years. "She Walked In Beauty..." Bonnie was a much-loved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, niece, sister-in-law, aunt, and friend. She is remembered for her selfless dedication to the lives of those around her and to Jesus Christ, her lifelong Friend, Lord, and Savior. From her daily interactions with those who hardly knew her to those closest to her, she is remembered for her buoyant, personal warmth; her deep love of family and friends; her genuine interest in the needs of the dispossessed; and for the overall passion and beauty with which she lived the years she was given. Bonnie was a graduate of Prospect High School class of 1972, and The University of Tulsa College of Nursing class of 1977. In her career as a nurse working with infants, children, and adolescents, both at North Arlington Pediatrics and at Lutheran General Hospital's Pediatric and Pediatric Intensive Care Units, she was loved by patients and co-workers alike for the tenderness, joy, and professional thoroughness with which she did her job. More recently, while fighting her own battle with cancer, Bonnie lovingly cared for and encouraged other terminal patients in her job in the Hemodialysis Unit. She is remembered as a living, breathing representation of the Lord she loved. Bonnie is survived by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Roderick McLennan (Marilyn) of Asheville, N.C. She is also survived by her sister, Diane Stewart of Houston, Texas; as well as by her husband of 32 years, Joseph M. Gates; their three children, Bethany (26), Hannah (23) and Stephen (18); and their grandson, Samuel. She is also survived by her Aunt, Mrs. Dick (Fern) Farmer of Deerfield; her Aunt Joyce and Uncle Hartley Carlson of St., Louis, Mo.; her Aunt Peggy and Uncle Arwin Dougal of Austin, Texas ; and by numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. Preceding Bonnie in death were her beloved sister, Karen Schuster; and her infant son, Benjamin, whom she will hold in her arms at last. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Church of the Resurrection, 1825 College Ave., Suite 160, Wheaton, IL 60187, in gratitude for its significant support to the family throughout this process. For information, 847-255-7800 or visit www.FriedrichsFH.com.