Kiyo Monica Bourbonais

Kiyo Monica Bourbonais

"Kitty"

August 31, 1928 ~ September 3, 2025

Age ~ 97

Kitty passed away peacefully in her sleep, September 3, 2025, after living a long and healthy life.

She was born on August 31, 1928, in Kawasaki City, Japan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marshall “Bing” Bourbonais; sister, Nobuko (Hiroshi) Tanioka; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Bourbonais, Marjorie (Graham) Jaehnig, and Marion (Ben) Junttonen; son-in-law, Randall Trasti; grandson, Jim “Bucket” Koski; father, Sanjiro Hattori; and mother, Tokuyo Ouchi.

She is survived by daughters, Linda (Jerry) Koski and Liz Trasti; granddaughters, Kristie (Jim) Gonzales and Renee (Tom) Benes; grandsons, Brian and Keith (Carly) Bailey; many great-grandchildren; and one 2-month-old great-great grandchild, Sophia Quinn (Luke & Marijane) Evans, whom she just met on her 97th birthday.

Growing up in Japan, Kitty was an athlete in high school, playing on the volleyball, swim, and basketball teams. After high school, she attended dress-making school and was an excellent seamstress, still sewing until a few months ago.

Kitty met Bing in Tokyo, Japan, where they were married on March 20, 1953. They arrived in Houghton, Michigan, a short time later, eventually establishing their residence in Ontonagon, Michigan, until their passing.

Kitty and Bing were always the first ones out on the dance floor, dancing to the Tennessee Waltz or jitterbugging to a big band song playing on the jukebox. They also enjoyed bowling and golfing together, and golfing became Kitty’s favorite pastime.

Besides caring for her two children, Kitty enjoyed knitting and crocheting at home. Throughout her life, she had been employed at the local candy factory, as a Dental Assistant for Dr. Keller, and as a Nurse’s Aide at the Ontonagon Memorial Hospital’s Long-Term Care Unit.

She was well-liked by many in the community, even having an annual golfing event named after her, “The Kitty Open”, which was around her August 31st birthday each year.

She was a very independent, unique person, with a marvelous sense of humor and a laugh that was contagious. Sometimes, she would laugh so hard at her own jokes (“Suzuki, Suzuki” comes to mind), that she couldn’t even finish the punch line. Kitty was a loving person, who had a positive, can-do attitude and a no-holds-barred honesty spewing from her lips at times. She had even the hospice nurse stumped at times, persisting and persevering for several days, when her daughters and grandchildren thought all hope was lost. After 15 hours of seeming to be unresponsive, she suddenly sprang back to life, on her 97th birthday, like an Energizer bunny. Although she was unable to speak or hear at the end, she was able to communicate, with each visiting family member, through other means, such as sign language and facial expressions.

Kitty lived AND died “HER way”, and she was a very hard act to follow. If only we all could be as unique a person as she was, the world would be a better place.

Christian burial, with Father Michael Jacobus officiating, will be at the Holy Catholic Church Cemetery, Ontonagon, MI, on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 3 PM.

A Memorial Service will be held in the Holy Family Catholic Church Basement, 515 Pine Street, Ontonagon, MI, at 4 PM, followed by a lunch.