Donna Jean Bono
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Donna Jean Bono, 81, beloved Mom, Sister, Aunt, and Grandmother, of Leawood, Kansas passed away on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at Kansas City Hospice in Kansas City, MO.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 pm on Friday, June 17, 2022 at the Villas of Leawood Clubhouse, 2021 W 139th, Leawood, KS 66224. A private mass and burial will take place for the family at Donna’s request.
Donna was born in Detroit, Michigan to Molly and Guido Zanichelli on June 9, 1940. The family later moved to Pittsburgh, Kansas where she graduated from high school in 1957. After high school, Donna moved to Kansas City, Missouri where she worked in a law firm as a court reporter and held various other positions. She eventually spent the greatest part of her career working for Business Men’s Assurance Company as an Executive Administrative Assistant, where she retired in 2009.
After she retired, she spent time with her family and friends, especially with her two grandsons, Tony and Tyler, who she adored. The three of them would often go out together, and usually when they did, something particularly funny and unforgettable would happen. She would make sure she wrote it all down when she got home so there weren’t any forgotten details. It was never clear in these stories if it were the grandsons entertaining “Granny” or if it was “Granny” entertaining the grandsons!
Donna’s family and friends will remember her for her generosity, her thoughtfulness, her friendship, her quick wit, her sense of humor, and for the wonderful Italian cook that she was. She was a lover of dogs, music, her family, and her friends.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Molly and Guido Zanichelli.
She is survived by daughter Amy Bono of Overland Park, Kansas; son David (Stephanie) Bono, two grandsons Tony and Tyler Bono of Overland Park, Kansas; sister, Ina Davenport of Morro Bay, California; and brother, Charlie Zanichelli of Denver, Colorado. She is also survived by many loving and caring family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Wayside Waifs of Kansas City.
Donna’s family would like to extend sincere thanks and appreciation to all of Donna’s close friends, and caring doctors, nurses, and staff at Kansas City Hospice.
Donna was a great friend and neighbor, I miss her. Even in hospice she maintained her humor and loving personality. I loved her stories about Tony and Tyler, she enjoyed every minute with all of her family and was very proud of the lives David and Amy created for themselves.
Donna was always so welcoming to guests along with her side-splitting, albeit loud, sense of humor making it a pleasure to visit my good friend David during grade school and junior high in KC. LOVED her cooking and her willingness to try and get to know me and my family. My deepest condolences to the family and especially for David’s sons that she loved very dearly. God bless you all during this difficult time and give you His peace which transcends all understanding.
If anyone could have started the “4H Club” it was Donna – Heart, Humility, Hospitality and Humor!!! She was a long time special friend to me, as well as to so many others. Donna could brighten anyone’s day by just being “Donna”!
Her family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and her dogs were special to her because she cared so much about each of them. All of us will miss our “Bub” more than words can say – but we’ll all smile about the memories we made with someone so unforgettable! May God’s peace be with her and all those she loved.
Although cousins seem to grow apart, in distance, but not in love of family. I will always remember, with a big smile, Donna’s humor! As a younger cousin to Donna I will remember her caring and protective nature. I am so glad that I talked with her before her illness. May God Bless her. He is about to get a chuckle. Prayers to her family.
I will remember this Little cousin when I see a Butterfly. We had lots of fun when we were kids at Nannas . God will take care of this angel.
Donna was my dad’s sister and I only meet her once, that I can remember. It was around Christmas time, late 50’s. I remember seeing all the presents under the tree, and asked her which one is mine. She picked one out, tore the tag off of it and said this is yours. I think it was called tittley winks. I have missed you since then, aunt Donna.. Fly high.
I’m so sorry, the condolence I left right before this was about her mother, Molly. Molly was my dad’s sister.