Roberta C. Bonnette

WAITSFIELD - Roberta Clara Bonnette, 94, a longtime resident of Waitsfield, and more recently of Rutland where she was residing with her daughter and family, passed away in the comfort of her family at the Rutland Regional Medical Center on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008.

Born in Colchester on Sept. 20, 1914, she was the daughter of the late M. Elbridge and Elsie (Leach) Thompson. On Nov. 2, 1942, she married Harry R. Bonnette in Colchester. Harry predeceased Roberta on June 2, 1987.

Roberta was a graduate of Essex Junction High School and continued her education at the University of Vermont where she earned her bachelor of science degree. Roberta was an educator at the Waitsfield High School and then following her marriage was busy as a homemaker, raising her family and helping with the family business, Bonnette's Garage in Waitsfield Village.

Roberta was a longtime member of 4-H, both as a youth as well as a leader for many years in Waitsfield. Her other memberships included the Maple Rebekah Lodge #56 of Waitsfield and the Emerald Rebekah Lodge #33 of Waterbury where she served for over 60 years and held all positions within the lodge, the Mad River Valley American Legion Auxiliary Unit 75, and was a member for over 60 years of the Waitsfield United Church of Christ serving as Sunday school teacher, financial secretary, Youth Group leader and member of the Ladies Auxiliary.

While in Rutland, Roberta attended Calvary Bible Church. In her leisure time she enjoyed sewing, crafts, flower gardening, reading the bible, traveling, crossword puzzles, eating ice cream and collecting angels.

She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, Gram and Nana. She was a responsible, respectful and caring woman with a great sense of humor, having a kind word and smile for everyone. She will be greatly missed by all those privileged to know her.

Roberta is survived by her children, Nancy McDonough and her husband, Ralph of Newton, Iowa, Necia Massey and her husband, John of Rutland, and Norman Bonnette of Mt. Vernon Ky.; her grandchildren, Julie Richtsmeier and her husband Richard, Gail Randell, Sara Webb and her husband Jacob, Jillian Moseley and her husband Jeremy, Kaitlynn Massey; her step-grandchildren, Jeff McDonough and his wife Stacy, Brian McDonough and his wife Kami; her great-grandchildren, Amanda and Derek Richtsmeier; her step-great grandchildren, Morgan and Ellie McDonough; two brothers, Roland Thompson of Colchester and Noah Thompson of Essex Junction; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. She was predeceased by a brother, Lawrence Thompson and a daughter-in-law, Louise Bonnette.

Funeral services will be held from the Waitsfield United Church of Christ on Monday, Nov. 24, at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow in the church dining room. Friends may call at the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. Friends are also invited to visitation on Friday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the home of Necia and John Massey, 159 Russell Drive in Rutland. Spring interment will take place in the Irasville Cemetery, Waitsfield.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Waitsfield United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 16, Waitsfield 05673, or to Rutland Area Visiting Nurses Assoc. and Hospice, P.O. Box 787, Rutland 05702. To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.