Obituary of Louis Thomas Bonadio

Louis T. Bonadio, a 56 year employee of Arthur T. Gregorian Oriental Rugs, in Newton Lower Falls, passed away on Wednesday morning, April 5, 2017. He was 86 years old. Louis was born in the family home on Talbot Street in West Newton. He was the son of Italian immigrants, Michael and Mary Bonadio. He grew up with his 6 siblings in Newton and was a graduate of Newton High School. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War for 3 ½ years. He held the rating of AN, a radio communications specialist, and was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal. Louis was a man who was never afraid of hard work. He started working at Arthur T. Gregorian Oriental Rugs part time at the age of 11. He would do whatever was asked of him. He started by cleaning the building and picking up rugs. Over time his interest, hard work, and ambition gave him the opportunity to apprentice in the trade and become a salesman as well as a skilled repairman of the rugs. It was amazing how a man of his big stature and huge hands could handle the intricacies and precision involved repairing oriental rugs. His extensive knowledge of oriental rugs and their history lead him to lecturing in and around Boston. He had a soft sales style, but when a customer asked for a recommendation or advice his knowledge and wisdom flowed freely. He considered his coworkers as family and was proud to have worked with the Gregorian family for 56 years. Louis was a man who had vast and very diverse interests. He enjoyed working with his hands and loved making jewelry, beading, and silver smithing. He had the patience to enjoy caning and made countless Nantucket style baskets. He was an avid vegetable and flower gardener. He enjoyed woodworking, masonry work, furniture making, building his grandchildren’s first baby cribs, and even built his first home in Lexington from the foundation up (with the help of his brothers). He wasn’t afraid of laborious work either. He had his own cement mixer and enjoyed building stone retaining walls. When his daughter purchased her home an hour away, he spent countless hours building her retaining walls, stairs, and developing landscape beds and flower gardens. Everything he did was a labor of love. Louis was a man devoted to his family. He and his wife Joan shared 54 years together. They raised their family and then traveled extensively. They visited Italy, England, Bermuda, all over the United States, and even to Iran for an Oriental Rug buying trip. They loved taking road trips to Maine to get his favorite meal, lobster! He would do anything for his son and daughters and was so proud of each. He loved being “Papa” to his four grandchildren. He learned from his parents about the importance of hard work and family and he lived and shared those values with his children and grandchildren. He will be missed, but never forgotten. Louis was the beloved husband of the late Joan Marie (Whalen). Loving father of Mark Bonadio of Methuen, Beth Rouillard & her husband Mark of Barrington, NH and Susan Monfreda & her husband George of Jefferson. Proud grandfather of Megan & Erin Rouillard of Barrington, NH, James Monfreda of Jefferson & the late Jordan Elizabeth Monfreda. Brother of the late Mary Carnevale, Francis McFarland, Helen Bodwell and Edward, Emmanuel & Thomas Bonadio. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. A visitation will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt., 128/95 Woburn side) on Monday April 10 from 10 a.m. until Noon. Funeral Services will be held at the Funeral Home at Noon. Relatives & friends respectfully invited to attend. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, BURLINGTON.