NORMAN EDWARD BONNETTE

Norman Edward Bonnette, age 58, a resident of Swanton, passed away on Saturday, June 26, 2010, in the comfort of his home with his family beside him after a brief illness. Norman was born in Barton, Vt. on Feb. 12, 1952, son of the late Ferdinand and Elizabeth (Arrowsmith) Bonnette.
Norman had a love of food - whether he was cooking or eating. He always looked forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve when he would indulge in tortiere. He loved to sing and dance. He was a devout Catholic and was studying to become an associate deacon. His passion was working with the American Red Cross Blood Drive where he was chairman of the blood drives for Holy Angels. In recent months he had the most productive blood drives of the last several years where the drive achieved more than 112% of the goals that had been made. He was so proud of these successes and was always looking for ways to help out the Red Cross.
After graduating from high school in Granby, Quebec, Norman always sought opportunities to seek further education. After managing McDonalds in Granby for eight years, he began his studies to become a master chef. In 1997, Norman decided to return to his birth country to be closer to his "Vermont family" and self-appointed "Ma and Pa" as he lovingly called Maurice and Laurea Bonnette. He purchased a home in Swanton, where he sought different opportunities, including getting an associate degree from Johnson State College, working for the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Corrections as a Chef, U.S. Corrections as a Guard. He spent the last several years being a maintenance technician for Holy Angels Church while he was also studying deaconate to become a deacon associate of Holy Angels Church.
Norman was a proud 4th Degree Knight of Assembly 1149. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus St. Albans Council 297 and the Knights of Columbus Granby Council 1093. He was a Eucharistic Minister and Lecturer at Holy Angels Parish. He was the Chairman of the Red Cross Blood Drives at Holy Angels Parish, and a member of the St. Jean Ambulance Council.
Norman leaves his daughter, Marie-Claude Viens Bonnette of Granby, Quebec; a brother, Fernand Bonnette and his wife, Carole (Tardif); a nephew, Jonathan Bonnette; and a niece, Veronique Bonnette, all of Granby, Quebec. He also leaves an aunt, Doris Bonnette-Brunelle of Granby, Quebec; many cousins and friends throughout Quebec and Vermont; and a special friend, Virginia "Gini" Young.
Norman was predeceased by his mother, Elizabeth; his sisters, Jacqueline and Suzanne Bonnette; and brothers, Edouard, Elie and Denis Bonnette in a tragic fire on Oct. 22, 1969, in St. Alphonse, Quebec; his father, Ferdinand, on Dec. 25, 1982. He was also predeceased by many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Norman's family extends their "sincerest thanks" to NMC, Franklin County Hospice, Gini Young, Theresa Tilton, Hal Sullivan, and Ron Tilley, for their care and help in making Norman comfortable for the last few days of his life.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at Holy Angels Catholic Church in St. Albans, at 11 a.m., with burial immediately following in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery. A luncheon will follow in the Holy Angels Parish Hall immediately following the burial. Visiting hours will be Monday, July 5, 2010, from 6 to 9 p.m., and Tuesday, July 6, 2010, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., at Brady & Levesque Funeral Home, 86 South Main St., St. Albans.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider making donations in care of Maurice Bonnette, 27 Country Club Estates, Swanton, Vt., to be used towards the families wishes; and/or to make a blood donation on Monday, July 5, at Holy Angels Parish, from 12 noon to 5:30 p.m., in his name.
An online condolence book and photo album has been established at the funeral home Web site: www.bnlfh.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the Brady & Levesque Funeral Home and Commemorative Services.