John F. Bonella

John F. Bonella

1933 - 2022

John F. Bonella, age 88, passed away peacefully at his home on April 6, 2022 with his family at his side.  Without ever complaining and giving it everything he had, John valiantly fought the battle against cancer for many years. 

John was born in Philadelphia, on August 5, 1933 growing up for the most part at 2438 South 20th Street in the Gerard Estates area of South Philly.  John was the son of John Baptiste Bonella and Maria Antonio DeStefano.  John graduated from South Catholic High School in 1951 and Penn State University in 1961.  John served in the United States Air Force from 1953-1957.  He was stationed at Dover Air Force base which permitted him to enjoy beach life in Ocean City, New Jersey.

John was a devoted family man, artist, wood worker, gardener, and a man of great faith.  He is survived by his wife of sixty years Barbara Bonella.  John and Barbara met at happy valley in 1960 and were married August 5, 1961.  A gifted artist, John could draw, paint, or carve just about anything, focusing his later years on bird carvings.  John was dedicated to his parishes of many years, St. Francis in Springfield and Our Lady of Fatima in Secane.  He recently designed and built a prayer garden at Our Lady of Fatima.

John is survived by his children John F. Bonella II, AnneMarie Bonella, Michael J. Bonella, Robert W. Bonella, and Margaret Rose Bonella and her husband Tony DiNapoli.  His son Joseph E. Bonella, who was married to Natalia Bonella, predeceased John.  John is further survived by his grandchildren, Danielle Sarzynski (married to Steven Sarzynski), Jennifer Little, Michael C. Bonella, Nicole E. Bonella, Danny Hardy, Nicholas Bonella, Grace King, and Brady King.

Friends and relatives are invited to the viewing, which will be held at 9:30 Monday, April 11, 2022 at Our Lady of Fatima in Secane, Pennsylvania, and the funeral mass, which will follow the viewing at 10:30. Interment Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, please make any memorial contributions to either of John’s favorite charities, the Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/) or Tunnel2Tower (https://t2t.org/).

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