Bonnie Owens French

Bonnie Owens French (1942-2024) died peacefully at Riverwoods on April 30, 2024, after a prolonged journey with Alzheimer’s Disease. Bonnie was born and raised in Erie, PA. After graduating from Penn State University in 1964 with a degree in English, she relocated to New York City to work for the American Field Service. Her life was forever changed one fateful weekend after skating in Montclair, NJ, when David E. French sat next to her on the 66 bus to NYC; they were engaged three weeks later, and within six months were married and moving overseas to begin a 33 year-long adventure as expatriates. Whether living in Belgium, Germany, Singapore, Japan, New Jersey, or New Hampshire, Bonnie strived to make each new stop feel like home for her three daughters, Elizabeth, Allison, and Sarah. She readily embraced different cultures, learned new languages, and faced head-on the challenges of day-to-day living overseas (without Google Translate or Waze).

A devoted wife and mother, Bonnie was a talented cook who enjoyed experimenting with different cuisines and mysterious ingredients. She was passionate about entertaining, traveling, playing tennis, gardening, reading, singing, and playing bridge. She loved dogs, volunteering at her children’s schools, and indulging in her (not so secret) stash of Oreos and Fritos.

Bonnie is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, David of Durham, NH; daughters Elizabeth French (Andy Saunders) of Kingston, TN, Allison Stal (Tom) of Allen, TX, Sarah Gibbons (Jon) of Needham, MA; grandchildren Samantha Primavera, Preston and Cole Stal, Getchell, Gordon, Hadley, and Wesley Gibbons; and brother William Owens (Elaine) of Wake Forest, NC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Bonnie’s honor be made to Jog Your Memory 5K (www.jogyourmemory5k.org).