Bonita SIMMONS

SIMMONS, Bonita
Passed away at the Toronto Rehab Centre on, Monday, January 21, 2008 after a courageous year-long battle with Leukemia. Born in Halifax, NS, Bonita graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Education degree, and later received her Master's degree at the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. She moved to Toronto in 1968 where she began a long career at St. James, St. Luigi, Holy Family and Stella Maris, as a teacher, librarian, and guidance counselor, ending her career at the Catholic Education Centre supervising an alternative learning program. Along the way she devoted much of her life to books, travel, as well as sharing good times and bad, counselling and consoling her many, many friends. Bonita will be remembered by so many and missed by each and every one for all that she contributed to the rich tapestry of their lives. She is survived by her siblings, Lionel, Toronto; Joan Sweet, Halifax; Eileen Bardsley, North Carolina; Edward (Rhonda), Halifax; Ellen Mercer (Senator Terry Mercer), Ottawa. Nieces Janice Moore, North Carolina, Emily Simmons, Toronto, nephews David Bardsley, North Carolina, Chris Sweet, Halifax, Michael Mercer, Ottawa, Craig Bardsley, Georgia and John Sweet, Halifax. She was predeceased by father Gerald, mother Catherine, sister Katie, brother Gordon and brother-in-law, Joe Sweet. Friends may call at the Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor St. W., at Windermere, east of the Jane subway, on Thursday from 3 ­ 5 and 7 ­ 9 p.m. Funeral Mass to be held at St. Joan of Arc Church, 1701 Bloor St. W., Toronto, on Friday, January 25, 2008 at 2 p.m. If desired, memorial donations may be made to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. Online condolences may be made at www.turnerporter.ca BONITA SIMMONS