Obituary for George Bonnette

George Maurice Bonnette went to be with our Lord on April 1, 2025, surrounded by loved ones, at the age of 85.  The last years of his life, he was under the constant care and companionship of his loving family especially his beloved wife, Therese Bonnette.  While his family will miss him everyday, they are proud of the life he lived and the influence he had on others.  It will be hard to live without George.

He was born on August 1, 1939 to Raoul and Anne Marie Bonnette in Nashua, NH.  He was the youngest of eight brothers and sisters.  He attended Nashua High School and then worked as a carpenter for his father, who was a successful and well-known contractor in the community.  He collected silver dollars and enjoyed having his nieces and nephews go on scavenger hunts to find them.

George eventually became a religious brother with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.  He served God and people for 14 years, including missionary work in Haiti, where he helped families build houses that would withstand the elements.  Later, he met and married the only woman he ever loved in Vermont.  George and Therese married on November 1, 1975.  He loved spending time with Therese and her family on the LaMadeleine farm on Duck Pond Road.  He recognized the beauty in every person he encountered, especially his wife.  A devoted husband and father, George always made time for the people he loved and was generous with his time and expertise.  He was a man of many talents, including a skilled carpenter and jack of all trades.  He could MacGyver just about anything, like using extra pieces of wood to make stilts for his children or take a little tike's pedal car and help his daughter turn it into a bubble-blowing machine for the science fair.

George and Therese were blessed with three amazing daughters.  George was an outstanding father and always made his family top priority.  He taught his daughters how to swim and waterski at Crystal Lake.  On summer mornings the three girls could be seen skiing behind the family's boat all on one ski and often joined their friends Ken and Carol Borland and skied five behind Ken's big red boat with their son Nathan and his friend Donny.  George told his girls they could do everything boys could do and even better.  George appreciated the little things in life and loved nature.  He lived life to the fullest and valued every person he encountered.  He had a quiet strength, was extremely hardworking, and was very loving. He loved life and people.  Above everything else, he loved his family with all his heart.

His hobbies included riding his motorcycle, weight lifting while listening to his vinyl records,  fishing, boating, swimming, waterskiing, having cookouts with family or playing cards around the kitchen table, carpentry, and spending time with his family and friends.  He also enjoyed gardening, especially tending his garden full of tomato plants (his favorite food).

He was a longtime parishioner of Most Holy Trinity Parish and served as Eucharist Minister, visiting the sick and homebound of the parish and various nursing homes in the area.  He also served several years on the parish council.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Henry, Jake, and Albert; and by his sisters Lucille, Rita, Laura, and Muriel.

Besides his loving wife, Therese Bonnette, of 49 years, he is survived by their daughters Dorothy Bonnette of Albany, Vermont, Claire Beck and her husband, Gene of Henderson, Nevada, and Anne Gamble and her husband Rob and grandchildren James, Hannah, Sarah, Joseph and Adam of Glenburn, Maine.  He is also survived by many nieces and nephews including Linda Levesque, Eileen Rodier, Stephen McMahon, Andrew McMahon, James McMahon, Anne Goudreau, Jeanne Bonnette, Lisa Bonnette, Louise Bonnette, Marie Pappademas, Diane Bouley, and Denise Townsend.

The family wishes to thank Most Holy Trinity Parish and George's family and friends who supported him and his wife over the years with their prayers and love, also a special thanks to Kayla Blodgett for her care and compassion of George and kindness to Therese and Dorothy this past year.  A sincere thank you to Carol Smith and Lucy Lemay with the NEK Council on Aging for their assistance, understanding, empathy, and guidance.  Condolences may be sent to Therese Bonnette, 2098 Duck Pond Road, Barton, VT 05822 and Dorothy Bonnette, P.O. Box 158, Albany, VT 05820.

In his honor, donations may be made to Most Holy Trinity Parish and St. Paul's Catholic School, 85 St. Paul Lane, Barton, VT 05822.

A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 11:00 am at Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus 44 East Street, Orleans, VT 05860 with a reception following at the Parish Hall next to the church.  Burial services will be held at a later date pending when St. Paul's Cemetery becomes accessible. Online condolences may be made at curtis-britch.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home & Cremation Service, locally family owned and operated.