Bill Bonnell
OBITUARY
Our Prince of Words
We said farewell on January 26th to our precious Bill, husband of Clare for 51 years, father to Suyin (DiPasquale) and Johnathan, father-in-law to Norm, Grandpa to Emma and William and brother to Pat and Doug (deceased).
Bill was born in Schumacher, now part of Timmins, and grew up with a love of ‘the bush’, moving regretfully to urban life in Richmond Hill when he was 11. During his life he experienced living in London (UK), Hong Kong and Chicago where he was involved in community development, and in Scarborough from 1985, settling happily in Cobourg in 2016. He always took care of his health from the age of 15 when he started a life-long practice of weight lifting. He was an honours philosophy graduate from Trent University.
Bill loved the magic of the written word his whole life. He was a master of the evocative metaphor and had several poems published in both UK and Canadian literary magazines. While caring for our domestic life, he wrote speeches, funding proposals, educational material and crime fiction for which he twice received honourable mention for the Golden Dagger Award. Macmillan Canada published a unique cookbook of recipes that he imagined Sherlock Holmes would have eaten on his adventures.
A deeply spiritual man his love of books included Buddhist writings of the Thai Forest tradition (along with anything WWI and WWII!). He practiced Tai Chi and meditation for several years and attended meditation retreats and writing workshops until the relentless march of Alzheimer’s took away his ability to read and write. Sometimes the energy demands of living were difficult for him but throughout his life his intelligent insightful mind, his kindness, playful sense of humour and his quiet patience have been a gift to our family.
God give us each our own death,
the dying that proceeds from each of our lives:
the way we loved,
the meaning we made,
our need.
Rilke – The Book of Hours
Bill was a deep thinker and a seeker for the truth about human existence. He was also kind, insightful and able to see humour in life. His motive for joining the Ecumenical Institute in 1969 was to live within a spiritual framework, using writings of theologians applied to daily life. As a very private person, who once considered the life of a monk, the social development focus and the community living did not come naturally to him, but he applied himself to both.
In 1974 he and his wife Clare were assigned to Hong Kong. Their daughter Suyin (named after Eurasian author Han Suyin) was born 2 years later and in 1977 they all moved into the village of Nam Wai,part of the Human Development initiative. Bill worked with the leadership of the two clans in the community to develop a foundation that would enable the historical family land ownership to benefit the whole population and give future generations a reason to stay. He withstood considerable stress in the process. In the years after departing Hong Kong in 1979 he supported US and Canadian ICA development projects, famously being interviewed during a visit to assist ICA staff during a resident protest in an east coast community.
The following three years in London, in charge with Clare of ICA in the UK, was a time of unclarity for both ICA and Bill. Then his desire and gift for writing became his greatest desire for his life. In 1985 with a son, Johnathan, joining the family the previous year, they all returned to Canada to build their family life.
My Prince of Words took his last breath on Friday January 26th at 1pm, with our children there beside us. His sense of humour stayed with him throughout the 7 years of knowing he had Alzheimer’s. Now he has flown out of his body and mind for always. We love you Bill.
I send thanks to all of you for your caring responses to the news of Bill’s completed life. Each one meant a lot and brought warmth into this cold time of life, no matter how inevitable and natural death is.
~~ Clare Bonnell, January 2024
I appreciate that Bill handled life’s challenges with such serious humor!
~~ Leah Early
I knew you and Bill during the HK year that had the HDP changing from Fuk Wah to Nam Wai. I recall both you and Bill carrying Suyin around in a back/front pak wherever you went. You moved into that hastily built RHouse in the village that had no insulation! It was a time when we were very missionally focussed, but I always remember Bill’s kindness amidst his steadfast resolve. My deepest sympathy at your loss. May his completed life be celebrated in great memories and with love. Peace.
~~ Sharon Fisher
Oh Clare, I am so sorry! I am sending much love and a huge hug your way. You both have a prominent place in my heart and memory; I will cherish my memories of him always.
~~. Shelley Hahn
So sorry for this news. I know it’s been a long journey—glad his humor stayed for it. Love to you and family—wish you hadn’t joined the widows’ club with me.
~~. Elizabeth Caperton
Happy 48th wedding anniversary to my amazing parents! You serve as a strong inspiration to us all and we can only strive to be as caring and committed as you both are in our Golden Years. Thank you for being such wonderful parents and role models. Xoxo
~~ Suyin Bonnell, September 2020
For Suyin
I watch my daughter’s
steps
with care
In watching
I savour to reminisce
displaced and undisturbed
I forecast in cautious speculation,
dark in star,
light unhindered,
dreams down green pathways
my barefoot nomad trodding
And all that I,
as distant sentry
of encroaching fears
aching and useless
to forestall or tell,
the unkempt and lashing
bewilderments to come as
I watch my daughter
wander
~~ Written by Bill in Nam Wai community,
Hong Kong 1978
