Regina V. (Gleba) Bonnette

Regina Veronica (Gleba) Bonnette, 95, passed peacefully Monday November 30, 2020 at The Quabbin Valley Health Care Center in Athol. She led a healthy and robust life until Lewey Body Dementia threw her into chaos for the last year. Born on February 2, 1925 in Greenfield, MA she was the daughter of Ignatius and Rosalia (Kaczenski) Gleba. Regina was a graduate of Greenfield High School.
Regina married Joseph E. H. Bonnette on December 5, 1947 and lived in the home they built together at 171 Millers Falls Road, Turners Falls. In later years she moved to Park Villa Apartments eventually moving to 28 Oak St., Gill where she made her home with her daughter and son-in-law, Geri and Stanley Johnson.
She was a communicant of Our Lady of Peace and a spiritual student of philosophy of Arche teachings at The Renaissance Center in Gill. She was very proud of her studies and loved having her mind opened to other aspects of her spirituality.
Regina was a homemaker and neighborhood mother welcoming her children's friends to hours of activity in the backyard. She worked at the Franklin County Technical School at a job she loved in the cafeteria for 8 years. She touched many hearts and will be greatly missed.
She was always opened to new adventures traveling extensively with her children and being involved in their professional endeavors. She loved working with the Emu at Songline Emu Farm and Stan once said that she was his best helper.
She loved traveling, taking many cruises and camping trips. She was always with her sister-in-law and very best friend of 77 years Betty (Walter) Gleba. They could be found shopping all over the tri-state area and in later years on the casino buses to Connecticut. A busload of family and friends surprised her with a 90th birthday trip to Mohegan Sun, her best birthday ever! Much to her glee she did make another birthday trip to MGM with several of her grandchildren.
Regina was a staunch Democratic Party member, actively working for the party and campaigned for the Kennedys during their early years in politics. While she never ran for office herself, she did serve as a delegate to the State Convention and was Registrar of Voters and a pole worker into her 80's. Regina cast her last ballot in the 2018 elections.
She leaves behind her brother Edward Gleba (Jane), Athol; Children, Geraldine Johnson (Stanley); Cathleen Kotarakos Bergeron (Thomas); William Bonnette (Michaela Harlow) all of Gill; Diane "Dee Dee" Mares (David Peters), Leyden and Denise Ward Smith (Albert), Turners Falls, MA.
She leaves her grandchildren: Meagan Mares Sylvia (Benjamin), Wendell; Shannon Pezzuto Ward (Dan Hirtle), Derry, NH; Jillian Ward (Skylar Aldrich), Orange; Katie Bonnette, Millers Falls; Jasmine Ward (Keith Thornton), Montague Center, MA.
She also leaves her great-grandchildren Logen and Jacob Pezzuto and Sean Aldrich.
She was predeceased by her husband of 37 years Joseph E. H. Bonnette; Siblings Sophie Bjork (Frederick); Walter Gleba (Bettine); Son James J Bonnette and Grandsons Nicholas Kotarakos and Jesse Bonnette.
We have a special appreciation of the Quabbin staff for being so supportive of her and our family and making the last year of her life peaceful under the restrictions of Covid-19.
In Regina's memory we'd like to suggest donations to Quabbin Valley Health Center Recreation and Activities Program, Lewey Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, SW, Lilburn, GA 30047 or online at LBDA.org.
A memorial service will be held in the spring. Arrangements are under the direction of the Kostanski Funeral Home. For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.

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