Vincenza Bonerbo

Vincenza (Winnie) Passavanti Bonerbo died on August 4, 2017. During her 105 years on this earth, she had her share of tears and joy. She mourned the death of her parents, Gerard and Lucia, her husband Vincent James Bonerbo, her daughter Marion Bonerbo Quintano, all five of her siblings and her granddaughter, Marie. Left to grieve her passing are her son James and his wife Irene, her grandchildren Charles, Marc, Michael, Andrea and Lori, thirteen great grandchildren and five great - great-grandchildren. Those of us who had the pleasure and time to know her well know that she would not want any of us to spend too much time in mourning. Her kind and compassionate heart would not allow that, but would relish knowing we would each share our special memories of her very full life and how she affected each of us so deeply. How about her fluent Italian used to protect innocent ears from secrets, and who knows what else? Or her amazing cooking that was a secret to no one within smelling distance? Who could do a better Christmas Eve dinner? For baked goods, she might refer us to a favorite Arthur Avenue bakery, but for homemade lump free grits, we’d stay right at home. Many of us have some of her amazing art work in our homes and she enjoyed sharing her love of the arts with all of us. Classical music, Broadway, Opera and the ballet were passions she shared with any of us who showed the inclination or interest. And her lifelong love and talent for the piano kept us entertained for years. She was a child of her time, proven by the fact that the nuns “corrected” her left-handedness with a hard smack till she finally started using her right hand. She was a woman of her time too, modest and proud. She always locked her bedroom door while she dressed (in dresses, NEVER pants) and would not go out without her makeup and hair just so. She loved to shop at Macy’s or Lord and Taylor even though as a trained seamstress she would often find fault with store bought clothes. She was well traveled, to Italy several times and on other excursions till she was well into her eighties. Her zest for life showed in her smile and her beautiful eyes. She attributed her longevity to not smoking or drinking. For her lovely wrinkle free skin, she credited Dove soap. Nature ran its course and took her from this earth, but never from our hearts. She was the best. Till we meet again, Grandma... Winnie will be laid to rest beside her husband in a private ceremony at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY. Those wishing to memorialize her are asked to extend an act of loving kindness to another in her honor. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Vincenza Bonerbo, please visit our flower store.