Margaret Alice Bonsignore-Chapman

CHAPMAN Born Margaret Alice Enders on April 24, 1915 in Manlius, NY, Alice spent her early years in Buffalo, NY. She graduated from Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute (now R.I.T.) with a degree in Dietetics and began a career at Monroe County Hospital in Rochester, NY. At Monroe County Hospital she met and fell in love with Dr. Marco R. Bonsignore and they married on November 23, 1939. Dr. Bonsignore entered the military service in 1941 and the couple set off on an adventure. Alice gave birth to six children in various locations around the world. She was an active organizer and participant in community based organizations wherever she lived. Alice and Marc were keenly interested in local customs and events and enjoyed introducing their children to new experiences. After the death of her husband, Marc, in 1961 while on active duty in Nuremberg, Germany, Alice moved her family to San Antonio to be near the large military medical community. In 1968, she was instrumental in forming the Army Widows Club at Ft. Sam Houston. Alice attended continuing education classes at St Mary's Law School on the river and received her real estate license and began a 25-year career in real estate. She was named Realtor fo the Year in 1970 by the SABOR. She was appointed chair of Make America Beautiful in 1974 and was honored for her accomplishments by LadyBird Johnson in 1975. In 1976, Alice was named Woman of the Year by the local chapter of Business and Professional Women. Alice had a continuing interest in the elderly and began 'HELPERS' in 1972, paring high school students and adults with the elderly. She served on the board of Foster Grandparents and was also very involved in the community project which offered parents the opportunity to have their children fingerprinted for safety reasons. Alice was an inspiration to many. Faced with the burden of raising her family alone, including a newborn, she learned a new career, adopted a new home and encouraged all her children to get an excellent education. She believed in the importance of community service and was active in many businesses and cultural organizations. She celebrated life, lived her faith and cared deeply for all. She laughed a lot and had a fondness for hats. In 1977, Alice married Dr. Stow Chapman and they began the routine of spending weekends at her Hill Country retreat outside Kerrville and hosting extended family Sunday dinners at their Windcrest residence. Alice was a true matriarch and adored time spent with family and friends and introducing visitors to the delights of San Antonio and the Hill Country. She was very patriotic and proud to have spent half of her life in Texas. Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin S. Chapman and is survived by children, Michael Bonsignore and wife Sheila of Santa Barbara, CA, Celeste Bonsignore, Jon Bonsignore and partner Jeff Wright of Dallas, Candy Price and husband Bill, Nora Simmons, Marc Bonsignore and wife Suzanne of Boulder, CO, and Toby Chapman and wife Joanne of Maryland; 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Extended family includes Celeste Ferraro, Adriana DiStefano and Nola Bonsignore, both of California; longtime 'adopted' family friend, Kathy Restivo; numerous nieces and nephews. The family wishers to express gratitude for the loving care given to our mother by the staff of Manorcare-Wurzbach and VITAS. Visitation will be Monday, January 21, 2002, 6:00 P.M. at St. Pius X Catholic Church followed by a Rosary which will be recited at 7:00 P.M. The Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, January 22, 2002, 10:00 A.M. at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association or any of the organizations for which Alice worked. Sunset Funeral Home.