In Memory
Bonnie (Bonita) Kay Dineen, our beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, died peacefully in her Napa home May 3, 2020. We will always miss her, and she will forever remain in our hearts and memories.
Bonnie was born March 3, 1943 in Salem, Oregon. Her mother’s nursing career brought the family to Bakersfield, Auburn and finally to Napa, CA. Most of her high school years were spent at Auburn’s Placer High School, but she graduated from Napa High in 1960.
Bonnie joined the United States Marine Corp in 1961 and completed boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina with her service ending in Virginia. Bonnie was active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis. During this time, she met and fell in love with a handsome Navy sailor, Patrick Dineen. The couple married in Elizabeth City, NC on October 20, 1962 by the Justice of the Peace. A few days later, Patrick was on a ship to Cuba. After their honorable discharges, they returned to Pat’s home in Nebraska. There, they were married again in a Catholic ceremony January 5, 1963. While in the Midwest, Bonnie gave birth to three daughters, though sadly the third was stillborn. Pat and Bonnie returned to Napa to raise their family. There, they had their youngest, a son.
Faced with a life-altering experience when her young husband was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and three young children to feed, Bonnie made the decision to become a Registered Nurse. In 1972, Bonnie was part of the first graduating class of the Napa College nursing program. Her perseverance during this difficult time was an example to her children throughout life that, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”.
Bonnie’s career as a Registered Nurse had her employed at many places throughout California including the St. Helena Hospital, Yountville Veteran’s Home, Kaiser Hospital Terra Linda, San Diego Naval Hospital and Ask-A-Nurse.
Bonnie was a life-long researcher and student of the world. Her interests were varied and included birding, films of all types, Japanese culture, painting, drawing, arts, history, travel, literature, origami, music – listening and playing, politics, sight-seeing, sailing, social and economic issues, San Francisco and obscure facts. Her curiosity led her into a world of knowledge. Her ability to listen and befriend others was a gift. She enjoyed sending friends and relatives thoughtful and funny notes or mails. Bonnie’s sense of humor, caring and empathy was appreciated by all who knew and loved her.
During her later years, Bonnie took on some ambitious projects. Genealogy was of great interest to her and she shared the love of that project with her grandson Dillon. After meticulous research on our family history, she worked on others’ genealogy. After the death of Justin Gill, one of her best friends, she worked countless hours working on his photography. She rightly believed that his photographs should be seen and appreciated. She organized his slides and prints to create art books and individual pieces. Sadly, she did not get to see this project to the end. Bonnie also spent tireless hours and dedication to creating and/or editing books for others, including her sister Sandy’s story Bugs, Snakes, and the Art of Mother Maintenance: Alzheimer's at a Remote Mining Camp and her Uncle Fred (Bill) Coulter’s story, Alas, Aunt Sur. She also created many books of family artwork. She had planned to write her own story but ran out of time.
Bonnie’s greatest love and interest was her grandsons. Throughout the years, each grandson would spend time with Gran/Grams/Grandma and together would share wonderful experiences and discussions. Each had their own unique and cherished relationship that grew throughout the years. They learned from each other.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents Winifred Coulter and Donald Lausen, husband Patrick John Dineen, daughter Mary Dineen, and brother-in-law Justin Gill. She is survived by her daughter Lorraine Marie Dineen-Thackeray (Tracy Thackeray) and son William Patrick; daughter Leah Marie Dineen and daughters Axandra Wailea and Kyra Makena Boselli; son John Patrick Dineen (Susie) and sons Dillon Patrick and Maxwell Blaise, Susie’s dad Duane Schmeling; and Bonnie’s sister Sandra Marie Lausen.
The Dineen Family would like to thank a few of Bonnie’s friends throughout this difficult time including Bernice Butler, Brad and Donna Barton, Eleanor Wood, and Jeannie Peck. They would also like to thank Collabria Care for their support and her kind neighbors at Laurel Manor.
In Bonnie’s memory, please take a few moments out of your day to send a note or a card to a friend or just take some time to visit.
Bonnie’s ashes will reside in a niche at Tulocay Cemetery. Remembrances welcomed and may be sent to bkdineen@aol.com or mailed to: John Dineen 2271 Redwood Road, Napa, CA 94558.
SONNET
By Christie Lund
This was the hardest thing to bear:
That no bird ceased its singing when you died;
That bees and myriad insects strummed the air
And children’s laughter filled the valleys, wide;
That men and women walked their usual ways
And talked and sang as though you were not still,
No interruption to their busy days—
This desolate scare upon a lonely hill.
And oh, no gray prophetic shadow dimmed
The brightness of the sun, no meteor tore
Into the night; the radiant sunset rimmed
The darkening hills in splendor as before.
And yet, so hushed my heart above your bier
It seemed the universe was pausing there.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bonnie (Bonita) Kay Dineen, please visit our floral store.
Services
FAMILY TO DO SERVICES AT LATER DATE
|