​A Eulogy for Bonnie June Wilson – 2021

Bonnie on the left holding me; Sandra in the middle, Rob on the right.

Bonnie on left, Mom in middle, Sandra on right.

May the peace of the Lord be with you…

​Writing a eulogy, I discovered, is hard, sweaty work.  I recalled Bonnie’s smile and wondered how I could describe it. How could I put into words the tilt of her head, the look in her eye, the sound of her voice, the fall of her hair? How can I condense a lifetime into two minutes?

My sister, Bonnie, was born Bonnie June Cairns in Chicago, IL.  Given that she arrived on this earth 17 years, 6 months, and 8 days before I did, I am not qualified to describe her early years.

What I do remember is that she was like a second mom to me.  I remember her toting me around and caring for me.  In fact, I don’t remember ever having any other babysitter besides Bonnie.

On July 2, 1955, she married Eldon, her lifelong love.  I was not even two years old, so it has been “Bonnie and Eldon” for as long as I can remember. 

Bonnie was mom to Kevin Quinn Wilson and Jonathan Allen Wilson.  She loved and delighted in her babies, as did I, and I thought Bonnie had produced the most beautiful children in the world.  She probably thought so, too.

Bonnie was kind and gracious, with a gentle spirit.  She was the type of person that everyone liked, and I mean everyone – from leather-clad bikers to tottering grannies to children -- everyone enjoyed Bonnie.  There was nothing abrasive about Bonnie and I don’t think she ever rubbed anyone the wrong way.  If she knew you, she was interested in you, and demonstrated her interest by asking a lot of questions.

I remember that when she and Eldon attended the Evangelical Free Church in Lake Zurich, she made it a goal to invite every single couple or person to their home for coffee and dessert after the evening service. She worked her way through the congregation, one couple/one person at a time, Sunday after Sunday after Sunday.  It was a simple, kind, and diligent overture that impressed me.

Bonnie and Eldon both worked hard to provide for their families. Bonnie worked at Briggs, doing silk screening on towels.  It was just two blocks from her home. Eldon worked days and Bonnie worked the swing shift so they could take turns looking after their boys.

Bonnie had a good head for numbers and invested wisely, which helped sustain Bonnie and Eldon through their retirement years.

Family was a priority for Bonnie.  Her unwavering faith and prayers for her children and grandchildren were formative in their lives, and they are all better off for Bonnie’s intercession on their behalf.

As people of faith, we believe there is life to be found on the other side of death. We’re here because the knowledge of that life brings us together to celebrate Bonnie. 

So, despite our sorrow, we rejoice.  We rejoice for many reasons. We rejoice because Bonnie’s energy and love has not died. All her energy, every vibration, every BTU of heat, every wave of every particle that became her children and grandchildren remains with us in this world.

She lives on in you, because you have gathered all the love that shone from her eyes, all the love that emanated from her touch, and all the affirmation in her voice. And you will refract that “Bonnie energy” like a million rainbows into the people you meet and love, and she will go on forever.

Welcome to the work of sorrow and life and resurrection.
​
Amen.