Remembering my mom Barbara "Bonnie" Bondy who passed away at the age of 88
She always kept it real
I have sad news to break. My mom (Barbara “Bonnie” Bondy) died last week at the age of 88.
Standing next to my mom watching as she took her last breath is something I will never forget. My mom was finally at peace after years of suffering from multiple illnesses, including Alzheimer’s.
During the closing moments of my mom’s life, a medical technician at her assisted living facility named Kimberly Powell was an angel sent to us. Kim shared the story about how her son was shot and killed 11 years ago in Detroit and how she has had to deal with the tragedy of losing someone at such a young age.
Kim also revealed that my mom had confided in her about my sister who died in a car accident when she was 17-years-old.
My mom and Kim forged a relationship over the death of a child. This was a relationship that no one in my family knew about until her last breaths were taken. After my mom took her last breath Kim said a prayer. Moments after that prayer I embraced Kim with tears flowing. Kim is a special person.
Click here to learn more about Kim’s story as told by a local newspaper.
My mom was born in Detroit and raised six children. I am the youngest. My mom had the hardest job of all — raising and managing a family.
My mom has lived through hell and back. As previously mentioned, my sister Joan was killed in a car crash at the age of 17. My dad died at age 80 in 2012. All of my mom’s sisters died before her. She saw death up close and personal throughout her life.
Click here to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association of Michigan in memory of my mom.
In 2013 she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she also suffered from cancer and several other ailments.
Despite the setbacks, my mom continued to give everything she had to make sure her family was happy and taken care of.
My mom loved gambling and going to Las Vegas. My mom would go to Vegas at least once a year with her sister Virginia every year since I can remember. When Virginia died my mom continued going to Las Vegas carrying on the tradition.
It was more than just the gambling, it was a way for my mom to get away from life back in Wayne, Michigan, and a family that always had something interesting going on.
My mom was someone who always cared for others more than she cared for herself.
My mom always wanted to show me off and brag about my accomplishments and my family. My mom wanted everyone to know the success I have become.
I credit my mom and dad for the person I am today.
During her last months on earth, I learned a lot about my mom that I had never known. My mom had several “boyfriends” before she met my dad. My mom’s advice was to enjoy life when you can and travel the world before you settle down.
I was fortunate enough to have as long as I did with my mother. My mother’s main wish was that she would die knowing who her children are. She did not want Alzheimer’s to completely erase her memory before death. It did not. She won, she died knowing everything about me, my wife, and my children.
I appreciate everyone who has shown interest in my mom. I hope she has been able to bring some humor, inspiration, and possibly motivation to some of you.
Love you mom,
David
What a beautiful sentiment for your mom. Mother's never leave us, their stories and their spirit remain with us. After all, they are the only ones who felt our heartbeat before we were born. Stay strong Dave.
So sorry for your loss ❤️My Mom passed 6 years ago and I miss her daily. May God give you and your family comfort and strength to navigate through this difficult time 🙏I’m send you this quote because it helps me when I’m missing my Mom.
Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!