Dorothy J. Bonaquist 1941-2024
HUBBARD — Dorothy Jean “Tootsie” Bonaquist, 82, died Monday evening March 4, 2024, at her home. She was born Oct. 15, 1941, in Youngstown, the youngest of seven children to Francis J. and Margaret M. Grimm Engel, and was a lifelong area resident.
Mrs. Bonaquist, a 1959 graduate of Ursuline High School, went on to work in the bookkeeping department of Mahoning National Bank after graduation. She then worked for the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown as a secretary for the Central Catholic Charities and the Office of Marriage and Family Ministry for 27 years before retiring. Tootsie was a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church for 24 years, where she served as an extraordinary minister and was a member of Christ Renews His Parish Team. She was a former member of St. Mary Parish in Mineral Ridge, where she had served as secretary and treasurer of the Ladies Guild and was the secretary and taught in the CCD program.
Tootsie enjoyed reading novels, playing Words with Friends on the computer, going to luncheons with her former co-workers from the Diocese of Youngstown, the girl classmates of Ursuline, and especially dinners and vacations to Florida with their good friends Dottie and Rock Lubinsky.
She leaves her husband, Thomas C. Bonaquist, whom she married Oct. 30, 1999; a son, Brian J. Jones and his wife, Heather; a daughter, Jennifer L. (Rob Reilly) Stith; a stepdaughter, Julie Bonaquist Schaefer; two granddaughters, Miranda Rae Stith and Samantha Renee Jones; two step-granddaughters, Maggie Schaefer Primm and her husband, Scott, and Grace Schaefer; two great-grandchildren, Kelly and Charlie Primm; and several nieces and nephews.
Tootsie was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, James G. Jones Jr.; four sisters, Margaret C. Engel, Bernadette Eich, Marion Moore and Joanne Manko; and two brothers, infant Francis J. Jr. and Robert H. Engel.
Family and friends may call 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Kelley-Cummins Funeral Home, and also 11 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church Parish Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at noon Saturday at the church, with the Very Rev. Michael Swierz officiating.
Tootsie’s family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Charles Sammarone and his staff, and Dr. MacMurdo and her staff at The Cleveland Clinic for their compassionate care.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Buckeye Hospice, 3379 Main St., Mineral Ridge, OH 44440.
Interment will be in Hubbard Union Cemetery.
Visit www.kcummins.com to view this obituary and send condolences to the family.
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