Obituary of Joan Bonadio

Joan Marie Bonadio, a resident of Burlington, MA for the past 48, years passed away peacefully at her home after an extended illness. She was 79 years old. Joan was born in Cambridge, the daughter of the late Raymond and Alyce Whalen. Joan grew up in Lexington and was a graduate of Lexington High School. She was an extremely talented dancer. While an instructor at the Arthur Murray School of Dance, she met and fell in love with one of her students, Louis Bonadio. They made a beautiful pair on and off the dance floor. Whenever they had the opportunity, they loved to dance and would float effortlessly across the dance floor as though they were of one mind. They were married in 1960 and lived in Lexington in a house that Louis had built. In 1966 they built a new house and settled in Burlington. They would go on to have 3 children and 4 grandchildren who were the center of their lives. Joan had worked as an operator for the phone company until having her first child. She would later work part time at Stretch and Sew, but considered herself a homemaker focusing on her family’s wellbeing. She enjoyed going with her family to the ocean where they could walk the beach and breathe the ocean air. She encouraged and supported her children in their lives, educations and career. She loved being a grandmother and having the opportunity to just play with and appreciate her grandkids. Joan was involved with a number of organizations and had several interests that she enjoyed participating in. She was a member of the Burlington Garden Club and the Burlington Quilting Club. She was a very talented seamstress and quilter. She made lap quilts, large quilts, hats, and mittens for her family, friends, and the homeless. She made Teddy Bears for the Burlington Fire Department, which the fire fighters used to comfort children who were upset or afraid. She made clothing for herself, her children and grandchildren and has made countless family heirlooms which will always be treasured. She was an avid reader, with romance and mystery novels being her favorite genre. When her eyesight worsened, she cherished the Perkin’s School for the Blind audio books. She loved chatting and catching up with family and friends in person or over the phone. She lived a life of love and devotion and will never be forgotten by those she loved. Joan was the loving wife, of 53 years, of Louis T. Bonadio of Burlington. She was the loving mother of Mark T. Bonadio of Methuen, MA, Beth Rouillard & her husband Mark of Barrington, NH, and Susan Monfreda & her husband George of Holden, MA. She was the sister of Lois Fisher of Phoenix, AZ and the late Raymond Whalen and Edith Gilbert. Joan was the proud grandmother of Megan & Erin Rouillard, James Monfreda, and late Jordan Elizabeth Monfreda. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 of Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Monday, Dec. 29 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Sunday from 2-5 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Joan’s name may be made to the Perkin’s School for the Blind, 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472 or www.perkins.org.