Mary Frances Guinee (AKA Bonnie) was born on September 1, 1925 in Bremerton, WA to Charles and Frances Forquer. After many years of relocating for the Navy, for which Charles and Frances served, the family settled in Alameda, CA where Bonnie graduated high school and then went on to get her degree in accounting from U.C. Berkeley in 1946, a period in which few women earned college degrees (Less than 4% of American women earned a college degree in the 1940’s). While most of the cars during that period were neutral, black and white tones, Bonnie painted her car bright pink. She was a free thinker in Berkeley, before most hippies were even born and never afraid to stand out, marching to the beat of her own drummer.

Bonnie married John Francis Guinee in 1948 and went on to have eight children between 1950-1962 including: Roger, John Pat, Grady, Sharon, Cecelia, Michael, Margaret and Larry. While John served in the Navy during WWII, he reenlisted in 1951 during the Korean War, bringing Bonnie and their growing family to Philippines, Guam and Maryland. After John was discharged from the Navy, the family settled in Hayward, CA in 1955.  

John and Bonnie divorced in 1964 and in 1966, Bonnie bought a house in Alameda, CA where she raised her kids as a single-mother, working in real estate, eventually starting her own business. She not only bought and sold homes, but would also fix and flip homes herself, and was quite handy with a hammer and screwdriver. While she juggled raising kids and her career, she also made time for a social life, holding black light parties at her home, entertaining free thinking friends from groups she belonged to such as the Singletarians and Parents without Partners. She could be seen driving around Alameda, CA in another painted car, this one done by a hippie friend, with symbols to “ward off the evil eye”.

After raising her children and moving around Hayward, San Leandro and a brief stint in Winlock, WA where she lived in a house converted from a community theater that tragically burnt down, Bonnie made her way to her favorite beachside town of Santa Cruz, CA. She lived there for many years, working as an accountant and volunteering at the local library, sharing her love of reading with others, including her grandkids. She would entertain many friends coming to play bridge or family coming to visit her in her mobile home in Santa Cruz, chatting about her favorite novels, poems, shows or movies, while sharing chocolate and black tea (Not “froo-froo” flavored tea).

Bonnie had a great sense of humor and once had a satirical business card printed up that listed her skills as, “Artist, Philosopher, Part Time Curmudgeon”. No wonder her favorite comic strip was Maxine, the grumpy grandma. Bonnie could be a bit of a curmudgeon herself and wasn’t the type to tell you nice things to make you feel better. If you stunk at karaoke (or anything else for that matter), she would tell you, point blank. While Bonnie could have a prickly personality, she got better at expressing her needs in her later years, particularly the last six years of her life at The Terraces of Roseville, where she was loved by residents and staff alike, for her humor, friendliness and warm smile.

After various health issues, Bonnie would say, “Getting old ain't for sissies!” and had plans to live to 100, but as she neared her final years, while not very religious (she often said, “I don’t trust God indoors” alluding to her distrust of the Catholic Church), she reflected on her spirituality and what the next life might offer. She recalled a near death experience her sister Pat had in which she said heaven was a wonderful place full of love and light. Bonnie ultimately received her last rites from a Catholic priest and later remarked she had a dream about taking a “Ship to Valhalla”, the mythical afterlife of the Vikings. Bonnie died peacefully in her sleep, in the presence of her grand-daughter Ela, who had painted her nails pink, two days before, just like her car in college, never afraid to stand out, until her last breath.

Bonnie was predeceased by her siblings Charles, Patricia and Jim and is survived by her youngest sister Margo, along with all eight of her children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was the matriarch of her family, living 99 fruitful years, until her passing on February 4, 2025. Her cremated remains will be placed at Lone Tree Cemetery in Hayward, CA next to her sister Pat.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation in memory of Bonnie to the “Terraces Christmas Fund”, which provides Christmas bonuses to hard working staff at The Terraces of Roseville. Make your check out to “Virginia Ottonello” (memo “Terraces Christmas Fund”) and send it to The Terraces of Roseville, 707 Sunrise Ave, Roseville, CA 95661.