Bonnie funeral

Introduction

Good morning everyone and thank you for being here today.

My name is Dustin Alley and I’m the Lead Pastor here at Liberty Baptist Church.

We are here this morning to celebrate the life of Bonnie Selander.

In this moment today may not feel like a good day. Today will feel like a sad day. A day of mourning, a day remembering, and day of sharing hugs and tears with loved ones.

That’s ok. Today is the day that I pray, in the days and years to come, you can look back on and see it as the day you gain closure as you process the loss of Bonnie in your life.

To the friends of the family that have gathered here, thank you for coming. As a person who has interacted with others who have lost family members, I can tell you sometimes, you may not know what to say. Your presence here shows your love and support for this family.

I was able to meet with the family this last week and talk about Bonnie for a bit. When we met to speak it was at a moment where the family was in a good place and able to look back on Bonnie’s life and impact with fond memories and much laughter.

Bonnie lived to be 60 years old and had a full life. From even an early age her life was filled with love, laughter, and memorable moments.

Barry shared with us that when she was about 1 year old their mother had put her in a high chair and Bonnie did not like being confined. I didn’t know her well but what I know of her, this sounds like her.

She was screaming and carrying on during that time and so their mom asked Berry to entertain her. Berry being the good brother he was grabbed a toy for her to play with…a monkey with a suction cup on it so it would stick to the tray and bells on it. He stuck it to the tray and Bonnie would rip it off and throw it in the floor. Getting frustrated with these antics he took the toy and stuck it to her forehead…to which it remained for 20 minutes while mom frantically tried to remove with Bonnie screaming and crying....Dad finally got him and he removed it with pliers. Berry said Bonnie had a big red mark that lasted for over a year.

Bonnie expressed to her family how proud she was of her brother berry.

She grew over the years and as an adult maintained that same fiestiness. She served as a watress for much of her life. She had a great relationship with people in her neighborhood. I was told that many of them had bought cabins in Maine near each other and would vacation together.

I found it interesting that a lady raised in New England was known for getting a lot of people to enjoy country music.

Nicole said some of her main things was her hair, blue eyeshadow, pink lipstick, and her smile. She was known for that.

She was also known for leaving her mark on a waterbottle if she drank from it. Her lipstick would come off on it and smudge it. Grandchildren would say “That’s grandmas bottle...”

As a mother she through the best birthday parties. Made the best pasta, and loved her sweets.

Brittany and Nicole had the house everyone else came to. She was the cool mom with good snacks.

Ah and she gave the best bubble baths according to the family. That must’ve been because she loved them so much.

Her love for life extended not only to her children but her grandchildren. Even in the last days she would tell them she loved them when it was hard to talk.

Caden enjoyed spending time with Bonnie and Steve. They would walk to the store and get candy. She combined her love of sweets and her grandchildren by bringing him the gummy shark ice cream from friendly’s when she worked there.

Over the last couple of Decades her and Steve had made a great life together. It was at the time of his passing I first met Bonnie. She was distraught when we met to talk about Steve and their life together. They had a beautiful 19 years together.

Over the last few months Bonnie was blessed to have loving friends and family around her. It was mentioned how great of a blessing Sharon was to her for the help she provided. Bonnie expressed her gratitude for Gilmary reassuring her she would take care of the kids and Brittany. She gave her her last bubble bath and brought so much comfort to her.

That last thing I was instructed to mention before we move to the next part of the service is something Brittany wanted said to help make things a little lighter and hopefully help us laugh.

About 4-5 years ago Brittany had to call Steve to see where Bonnie was because she wasn’t answering her phone. Steve said he didn’t know and they hung up. A little bit later Brittany’s aunt calls and whispers to Brittany over the phone that that her mom is there.

Bonnie gets on the phone and in a frantic tone of voice says “BRIT BRIT, the IRS called and said they are coming after me bc I didn’t pay my taxes.”

Bonnie had been scammed and was now on the lam under her sisters staircase hiding from the IRS. She didn’t have her phone because she didn’t’ want to be tracked. Mrs. Bonnie had fallen victim to a scam.

Comments from Friends and families

Gospel

John 3:16 KJV 190016 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 3:23 KJV 190023 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 KJV 190023 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 19008 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 10:9 KJV 19009 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:13 KJV 190013 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.