Bonnie Bradley Jessup

1942 - 2022

Jessup

Bonnie Bradley Jessup (Age 79)

Longtime Washington, DC. resident Bonnie B. Jessup, age 79, passed away unexpectedly on September 17, 2022. She was born in 1942 at the Woman's Hospital in Manhattan to the late Jean and Mark Bradley.



Bonnie spent the first quarter of her life with her family, splitting time between New York City, New Jersey, and Florida. She was baptized at the Church of St. Francis de Sales on the Upper East Side. Bonnie attended Fairleigh Dickinson University - located in Teaneck, New Jersey - before marrying Harrison Price Jessup of Richmond Virginia in 1963. The couple eventually settled in Washington, DC where they lived for the duration of their marriage. While together, they welcomed their son, Harrison Price Jessup, Jr. into the world. Bonnie raised her son in the same house she lived in for the rest of her life.



Bonnie spent her professional career working for Printing Industries of America and ITS America, planning and organizing their membership events down to the smallest detail. Bonnie planned events across the United States and, in her later role, Europe. Bonnie took great pride in seeing her efforts come to fruition.



Outside work Bonnie loved to read and garden, typically growing tomatoes, string beans, squash, cucumbers, and herbs in her backyard. For many years she would spend the closing weeks of Summer canning dill pickles and making dill bread which she'd hand out to friends and family over the holidays. She loved spending Saturday mornings at local markets and stores hunting for bargains and produce and could always tell you which prices had increased from the previous week. Because she lived in Washington for so long, she had an extensive list of "back ways" to dodge traffic.



Bonnie loved animals and during her life she owned dogs and cats. She always had a male cat named "Opus" who could usually be found sunning himself behind her house. She was also known to adopt the occasional hard luck case who began hanging around her backyard. Thanks to her son, she endured a wide variety of pets from parakeets to fish and even a tarantula. She usually ended up taking care of these various pets, much to her chagrin.



Bonnie was loyal to friends and family and always made efforts to keep in touch. She happily welcomed a daughter-in-law, Sandra Jessup, into her life and a grandson, Ryland Jessup, whom she loved dearly.



Bonnie was predeceased by her parents, Jean and Mark Bradley, and her sister, Patricia van Engelen. Bonnie is survived by her son Price Jessup, his wife Sandra Jessup, her grandson Ryland Jessup, her sister Penny Fitzgerald and her sons Shannon and Sean and his wife Patty, as well as her niece, Mary, and nephews Mark, John, and Peter van Engelen.



Bonnie led by quiet example and never allowed any of the challenges she faced to keep her from her goals. Bonnie created a caring, stable life for herself and those she loved. She will be sorely missed.



"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." - Matthew 5:4



A celebration of Bonnie's life will take place at Chef Geoff's at 3201 New Mexico Ave. on Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. and all who knew Bonnie are welcome. Burial will take place the following Monday at Oakland Cemetery in Philadelphia, PA.