Hello from 30,000 feet,
We write this from the airplane as we head back to Minneapolis. It will be so great to be home! Vince and Isabella have asked us everyday how many more days until we go to Minneapolis, and this morning they kept hurrying us and asking if we were sure the plane was waiting for us. They talked to Eli and Annika on the phone last night, making plans with each other about things they could play with when everyone was together. It was really sweet.
Yesterday was the viewing. Vince was barely interested in getting close to Debbie’s body and went off in another room to play. He did say goodbye and said “I love you mommy”. Isabella wanted to stay by her mommy and asked many questions about what would happen to her mom next and what it would be like when her mommy was an angel. We went outside, and she picked a flower which we put in Debbie’s hand. It was the first time either of the kids cried about the death. Isabella sobbed for an extended period and then cried off and on the rest of the day, wanting to see her mommy again. Neither of them asks about their dad. We hope this day, as hard as it was, will provide some closure for them (or at least the start).
Today is good. They are looking forward to their new life and want to look at pictures of Eli and Ani over and over.
Jon and I have talked about all the incredible messages we’re receiving from friends and family. People have made incredible offers of generosity, and we have no doubt that we’ll be able to manage with all the support we have around us. Thank you all. We just can’t say it enough. We’ve also talked about the number of times we’ve been called “amazing” or “heroic” and feel the labels don’t really fit. We’re not doing anything extraordinary. We simply found ourselves in a horrible situation and are dealing with it the best we know how. People do it everyday. People trudge ahead – that’s the norm, and we can’t imagine an alternative. It’s what Debbie was doing her whole life, so what else could we do?
We’ll send out another update over the weekend after we get some sleep. We are both walking zombies right now.
Love you all,
M&J
In memory of Debra Lynn Bonilla (7/18/69-4/19/08).
Debbie
Memorial Fund
Please send donations to:
M&I Bank
Attn: The Vince & Isabella Education Fund
651 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Donations will be used for the educational expenses of all five of Debbie's children.
M&I Bank
Attn: The Vince & Isabella Education Fund
651 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Donations will be used for the educational expenses of all five of Debbie's children.
Children
- Brandon, age 18
- Emily, age 14
- Olivia, age 11
- Vince, age 5
- Isabella, age 4
Obituary
Obituary for Debra Lynn Bonilla
Debra (Debbie) Lynn Bonilla of Seattle, born July 18, 1969, died Saturday, April 19, 2008. Debbie was born in Seattle and returned in 2006. She died suddenly and shockingly, murdered by her husband during a dispute.
Debbie was the mother of five children: Brandon Ginsburg (18), Emily Ginsburg (14), Olivia Ginsburg (11), Vince Bonilla (5) and Isabella Bonilla (4). She was an early childhood and special needs teacher who lived a tumultuous life in recent years, enduring alcoholism and domestic abuse.
Despite her difficulties, Debbie was a loving mother, sister, friend and daughter. Her death is a tragedy to all who loved her. There’s no nice way to say how much it hurts that she is gone and that she died so horribly. It’s awful. We will miss her and will do our best to raise and support her children as they face life without their mother.
Debbie had two sisters, one brother, and three step-sisters, along with her mother & step-father (Del & Kathy Hurt, Mpls), and father. While we (her family) experienced incidents of sadness and dread in relation to Debbie, we also have happy memories of Debbie’s infectious laughter and wry look at life. She pushed ahead, giving her children love and support, despite the sometimes desperate circumstances.
The loss we feel is overwhelming.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Vince & Isabella Education Fund at M&I Bank, c/o Chad Ransom, 651 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55402. For more information on Debbie or to post your comments, go to werememberdebbie.blogspot.com.
Debra (Debbie) Lynn Bonilla of Seattle, born July 18, 1969, died Saturday, April 19, 2008. Debbie was born in Seattle and returned in 2006. She died suddenly and shockingly, murdered by her husband during a dispute.
Debbie was the mother of five children: Brandon Ginsburg (18), Emily Ginsburg (14), Olivia Ginsburg (11), Vince Bonilla (5) and Isabella Bonilla (4). She was an early childhood and special needs teacher who lived a tumultuous life in recent years, enduring alcoholism and domestic abuse.
Despite her difficulties, Debbie was a loving mother, sister, friend and daughter. Her death is a tragedy to all who loved her. There’s no nice way to say how much it hurts that she is gone and that she died so horribly. It’s awful. We will miss her and will do our best to raise and support her children as they face life without their mother.
Debbie had two sisters, one brother, and three step-sisters, along with her mother & step-father (Del & Kathy Hurt, Mpls), and father. While we (her family) experienced incidents of sadness and dread in relation to Debbie, we also have happy memories of Debbie’s infectious laughter and wry look at life. She pushed ahead, giving her children love and support, despite the sometimes desperate circumstances.
The loss we feel is overwhelming.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Vince & Isabella Education Fund at M&I Bank, c/o Chad Ransom, 651 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55402. For more information on Debbie or to post your comments, go to werememberdebbie.blogspot.com.
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