Susan G. Bonnevier
Susan G. Bonnevier (nee Grether), born and raised in Dayton, OH and long-time resident of LaGrange Park and Western Springs, IL, died peacefully in her home on 1/18/21. She was preceded in death by her husband Gerald L. Bonnevier, her parents Stanley and Jane Grether and her brother Gary Grether. Susan is survived by her sons Perry (Cheryl Tatton), Jeff (Jamie) and grandchildren: Braxton, Tate, and Elin.
Susan dedicated her career to education as a long-time elementary school teacher. Her career began in Ohio, her home state (GO BUCKEYES!), before she moved to the suburbs of Chicago, a big city that was still close to home. She spent the next forty years teaching in LaGrange Park, Western Springs, and Downers Grove. After retiring, she continued working in the education field as an elementary reading specialist and then at Benedictine University mentoring student teachers.
When she was outside the classroom, Susan loved gardening and volunteered many hours working in the Peabody Estate gardens. Her adventures later in life included several vacations with friends to France and England to visit their unique gardens. When it was too cold for gardening, Susan skied throughout North America, including some of its highest peaks and, closer to home, visiting the family chalet in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Throughout her life, Susan enjoyed remaining active in the community including her involvement with P.E.O, Western Springs Garden Club, First Congregational Church Western Springs, and volunteering at Hinsdale Hospital.
Above all, Susan cherished family time and was a proud cheerleader for both of her sons. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren, cheering for them at their sporting events and other activities and, always a teacher at heart, reading them books or listening to them read to her.
There will be a private family Memorial Service for Susan that will be streamed live from the First Congregational Church Western Springs at 11:30 am on Friday 1/22/21 at:https://youtu.be/0mAv_BCCFsw Flowers can be sent to the First Congregational Church Western Springs; in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Woman’s Society of the First Congregational Church Western Springs, 1106 Chestnut Avenue Western Springs, Illinois 60558 or at www.wscongo.org/give/ (click on Woman’s Society) or www.onrealm.org/wscongo/-/give/WSdues
I am so sorry to hear about Susan. My thoughts and prayers go out to Jeff and Jamie and their family
I’m so sad to hear of Sue’s passing. She was such a kind and happy go lucky person who always had a positive attitude. She was such a great neighbor to our family. Jeff and Perry you have my deepest condolences.
Love & Peace , We will miss you Susan!
My wonderful neighbor & friend for
The last 14 years.
I know you were so proud of your sons ,
their wives and your grandkids!!
RSVP. Love to your family & friends
All my love
Maria, Gary & Theodore ( neighbor)
I so enjoyed traveling with Susan et al in England a few years ago. What a lovely lady …so glad I The opportunity to spend time with her.
Joan M
My deepest sympathy to you all. I always enjoyed our lunches and our time together. She will surely be missed. I’ll be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.
Peggy N
Susan will certainly be missed! She was a lovely lady and she was my kindergarten teacher many many years ago. A life well lived!
Keith Tracy
Susan was such a beautiful friend. Her positive spirit was contagious. She will be so missed! Kathi Best
It was my great privilege to meet Susanne several years ago when she recruited me to work with her at the Mayslake gardens. She was always such a kind intelligent happy soul. Condolences to her family. I will miss her kind heart and her laughter.
Our deepest, deepest sympathies to the entire Bonnevier family–Susan and Butch
Brian and I send our deepest condolences to your family. Susan was a bright spot in our lives and we always looked forward to seeing her at Mayslake. We will miss her so very much…💙🙏💙
We were so sorry to learn of Susan’s passing and send our condolences to her family. We first met Susan nearly twenty years ago when she responded to our call for volunteers at Mayslake Peabody Estate – we had a dream of creating an “English style, Perennial Garden” that would be filled with plants that could have been found back in 1922 and would be in keeping with the Tudor style Mayslake Hall. Susan was one of the early volunteers who was not phased by the fact that we had no tools! What a pleasure it was over so many years to watch her and our other gardeners transform the beds filled with weeds and overgrown evergreens into the lush gardens that are visited and enjoyed by so many. Thank you Susan for sharing your dedication, fun and gentleness with us. We will remember you fondly and with gratitude.
Janneke and Chrissie
Susan was my sister-in-law. I remember her great humor and fun-loving nature. She will be greatly missed by our family.
Susa was a woman who approached everything with great enthusiasm. The gardens and the gardeners at Mayslake benefitted from her encouragement. She will be missed.
My deepest condolences to the family. I never had the chance to meet Susan, but the fact that she raised someone as great as Jeff Bonnevier indicates to me that she was an unbelievable mother.
Susan was such a warm and welcoming volunteer at Mayslake Peabody Estate. She will be missed by all of us. My deepest sympathy to the Bonnevier family.
I am so sorry to hear about your loss and send my deepest condolences. I saw Susan often at First Congo, where she always had a warm smile and news about her beloved grandchildren to share with me. She was a ray of sunshine and I will miss her.