With admiration and love, we say goodbye to Solange Marie Bonin, 78, a gentle soul who was the quiet strength of her family. On Tuesday, January 9, 2024, following her struggle with dementia, she passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home with her husband of 57 years, Antonio, beside her.

Whether the crackling warmth of their wood-burning stove or the golden rays of the sun, Solange loved to feel the heat on her skin, to have it penetrate her bones. Her family fondly recalls the basket of hand-knitted slippers in an array of sizes that sat by the door because she couldn't fathom the possibility that anyone visiting her home might have cold feet. She had an instinctual desire to nurture and consider the needs of others that infused her entire life.

Born in Weedon, Quebec on January 27, 1945, Solange grew up on her family's farm until her early adolescence when they moved across the border and eventually settled in Barton. She married her beloved Antonio on June 25, 1966 and, moving various places in Vermont before finally settling in Troy, commenced a life that was marked by her devotion to raising her children, Marc and Audrey, her investment in a decades-long career at Columbia Forest Products, and her commitment to working alongside her husband both on their land and in his mechanic shop.

She carried with her a soft and approachable aura, a spirit that was always welcoming. The second oldest of seven children, she was the one her younger siblings went to for comfort in their childhood and even as adults. She wasn't just a nurturer, but a fierce advocate as well. She had high expectations for the people around her; while she didn't allow anyone to slack off, she simultaneously had an eye towards ensuring that everyone had what they needed and were recognized and rewarded justly for their efforts. Anyone, from her siblings to her coworkers, children, or grandchildren, no matter the situation, knew that if they went to her with their problems, she would help ease their burdens however she could.

Some of her happiest moments were spent outdoors. Her and Antonio raised a wide variety of livestock, cultivated fields of vegetable, fruit, and herb gardens, blueberry bushes and flowers—they were "salt of the Earth," pursuing a kind of sustainable lifestyle that mirrored the way they both grew up. Amidst her unassuming and simple nature, however, Solange had a marvelous capacity for extravagance, exhibiting an experimental creativity in many areas of her life. She made complex cakes from scratch for her family members' and coworkers' birthdays, she regularly left out tins of fresh homemade cookies for her children, she labored to create such delicacies as head cheese and pâté from the animals they slaughtered, and she loved fashion, dressing and presenting herself with a beautiful and effortless elegance.

Even while creating a life of familiar comfortability in rural Vermont, Solange frequently stepped outside of her comfort zone with determination. Little known by even those closest to her, she underwent rigorous training and achieved her certification as a First Responder from the National Register of Emergency Medical Technicians in 2003, fueled by her desire to be able to help if anyone around her had a medical emergency. Even earlier in her life, upon moving to the United States and attending school as a twelve-year-old with no knowledge of the English language, she persevered and mastered both oral and written fluency and trained herself to write with lovely cursive penmanship. Her character was marked by an astonishing strength that many benefited from but few truly comprehended, as she always led with soft humility.

Perhaps with an uncanny sense that she would struggle to access her memories in her later years, Solange was very disciplined at journaling and scrapbooking. Beginning in her teens up through the onset of her dementia, she was devoted to daily journal writing, recording and processing by hand all of those little, seemingly insignificant moments that end up constituting the best portion of our lives. Whether through collecting the accomplishments of her family and friends or advocating for her coworkers, her disposition was consistently oriented towards others; seeing those around her do well brought her deep joy. Solange's life journey of thoughtfulness and selflessness is an example to us all. We find great comfort in trusting that she rests now in the peace of regaining all of the memories she collected and cherished while alive, the unending warmth of the sun, and a perfect unity with God whom she revered throughout her life.

Solange leaves behind her husband of 57 years, Antonio Bonin; her children Marc (Kathy) Bonin of Murfreesboro, TN, and Audrey (Joe) Lafleur of Newport Center, VT; her grandchildren Bryan Bonin of Nantucket, MA, Ashley (Mike) Mulligan of Cleveland, TN, Andrew (Samantha) Lafleur of Montpelier, VT, and Kristi Butterfield of Newport Center, VT; her great-grandchildren Theodore Mulligan, Barrett Lafleur, Adeline Butterfield, and Amelia Butterfield; her sister Pauline (Raymond) Chagnon of Coaticook, Quebec; her brothers Denis (Aline) Breton of Laconia, NH, Richard (Sharon) Breton of Barton, VT and Julien Breton of Barton, VT; her sisters-in-law Rita Breton of Orleans, VT and Monique Breton of Sherbrooke, Quebec; as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, Wilfred and Rose-Annette (Fontaine) Breton of Sherbrooke, Quebec; her brothers Gustave Breton of Orleans, VT and Laurent Breton of Sherbrooke, Quebec; and her sister-in-law Paulette Breton of Troy, VT.

At the convenience of her family, a celebration of life Mass will be held in early Summer at St. Mary's Catholic Church where she was a member, followed by a Christian burial at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.

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.