Roberta Arlene Baltich (Buonamici)
Sept 22, 1946 – Mar 2, 2024
Roberta Arlene Baltich (Buonamici) known as “Bonnie” all her life, succumbed 33 days after her diagnosis to widespread cancer. She died at home with her loving family around her.
Bonnie was born to Belgo Frank Buonamici and Valentina Anjos Periera, in Newport, Rhode Island. Her father was an officer in the US Navy, so Bonnie grew up in Virginia, Florida, and NewYork, meeting her best friend of 68 years, Sandy Pitz in Cheektowaga, and finally settling in Depew. She met and married Slavko Baltich, a Canadian barber, and moved to Welland, Ontario, becoming a landed immigrant. They had two children, Steven Michael and Lisa Ann. They divorced after 20 years of marriage, and Bonnie eventually moved to Nanaimo, BC to be close to her daughter, and finally to Gabriola when her grandson Star was born. She met her final love, David Coombs, and they adored their home on Gabriola.
Bonnie held many jobs throughout her life, including Red Cross Homemaker, Care Aid, Early Childhood Educator, Switchboard Operator, House Cleaner and Tarot Card Reader. She loved nature and all creatures and among her greatest joys were feeding “the critters”, and doting on her cats. She absolutely loved children, and they loved her.
She enjoyed the holidays, family gatherings, and live music. She loved to have a good time and had an ebullient, infectious laugh.
Bonnie was creative, thoughtful, generous, kind, smart and witty. She was known for her radiant smile. She was dedicated to her family and tried to take care of everyone around her. She was practical and responsible.
She was into astrology, the tarot, and was very intuitive. She surely relished her TV shows, was interested in the world and identified as an American til the end.
Bonnie was a unique, shining light and it is hard to accept that she is no longer with us.
She believed that death was not the end, and we feel her energy and spirit with us still.
She leaves her partner David, her children Steven (Christina), Lisa (Tim), her grandchildren Jordan, Star and Sky, her sister Yvonne, her best friend Sandy, her nieces Misty and Mary, and her cats Destiny and Milo.
The family would like to thank everyone in the community for their donations and support.
A gift to Cats Alive in honour of Bonnie would please her. There will be a celebration of life party at The Skol Pub on May 11 with live music and karaoke, starting at 5 pm, to be followed by a family memorial. Flowers welcome. Peace.
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