Margaret M Bonanno

Margaret Marie (Gately) Bonanno (92) of St. Petersburg Florida, died Jan 13, 2021 at Westminster Palms senior living residence where she lived 11 years. Born and raised in the Boston area, Margaret graduated from Emmanuel College and Boston College. She settled in the former Canal Zone (Panama) in 1957 to teach high school biology and general science, and served as Associate Professor, Counselor, and Asst. Dean at the former Canal Zone College. Margaret married Capt. Justin Bonanno (deceased in 2007) in 1977, who spent many years as a Panama Canal ship pilot. Margaret taught Catholic Sunday School at St. Mary’s Mission and on US military bases in the former Canal Zone. After moving to Florida in 1987, she and Justin were active members of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church on Longboat Key (Sarasota) where she served as a lector and a past President of the Ladies Auxiliary Guild. Both were inducted in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem in l995 (a Papal honor). In St. Petersburg she was a current member of St. Raphael’s Catholic church on Snell Isle and its Catholic Council of Women. A highlight of Margaret’s life was a private audience with Pope John Paul II in 1996 at Castel Goldofo in Rome. Margaret is remembered as a person filled with lifelong joy, appreciation, gratitude, resilience, happiness, politeness and as a loyal catholic. She had a huge love for dogs and owned diverse breeds for many decades, especially noted for her love of dachshunds, Boston Terriers and Pomeranians. She is survived by stepchildren Sherry Bonanno, Barbara Marshall, and John Bonanno; grandchildren Lauren, Janine, Thomas, and Justin; and nieces/nephews Shawne, Erin, Maureen, Michael, and Bob. A memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Raphael Catholic Church in St. Petersburg on Thursday, February 4th, at 11am. She will be memorialized with a garden plaque as was done with her husband at St. Mary Star of the Sea. in Longboat Key (Sarasota). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations or mass intentions “In Memory of Margaret Gately Bonanno” to St. Raphael’s Church (1376 Snell Isle Blvd NE, St. Pete F. 33704) and St. Mary Star of the Sea (4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, FL 34228).