Diane G. (Pinchbeck) Bonazzo

A Tribute to

Diane Bonazzo

Born as a child of God August 29, 1939

Entered fearlessly in to His kingdom August 3, 2024

Now reunited with her soulmate, John Bonazzo

Our hearts are broken today as we announce the death of our beloved Diane Bonazzo – Mother, Sister, Aunt, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and one of a kind friend. Diane is survived by her eight children, thirteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She joined the love of her life, John and her late brother Bobby on August 3rd - just weeks before her 85th birthday. She was born in White Plains, NY - daughter of Marion and Wilfred Pinchbeck. Diane came from a family of three – her sister, Valerie and late brother, Bobby. She met her soulmate, John and after marrying they began a beautiful family of their own. They lived in an apartment in Mamaroneck before buying a home in Spring Valley, NY and later two different homes in Mahwah, NJ. Diane worked tirelessly as a Mother without hired help while John was out on the road furthering his profession and ultimately started his own business. She then went to night school to become a Dental Assistant, which became her career for about 30 years.

It was during this time that her journey committed to living a life in Christ became more and more evident – including how strongly she encouraged not only her children, but all she encountered to trust in God, attend mass, and to view trials through a unique lens – that which would ALWAYS be - an opportunity to become closer to God.

She went on to live in utter joy watching her children marry and birth grandchildren. Later on in life she suffered countless ailments and hospital stays, after losing her husband she cherished so dearly in 2015. Immediately following his death, Diane progressively lost all of her vision – even with several medical attempts to salvage the smallest amount of sight – and as she put it, “I just want to be able to see the faces of my grandchildren.”

Diane quite literally knew how to transform any darkness of woe in to a light of hope with her unfaltering belief that ‘there was a purpose.’ She frequently replied to questions of ‘why’ with regards to suffering or loss: “It is God’s mystery. We may not know the reasons or the deeper meaning behind it until we get to Heaven. But I’ve always believed the unknowns of life, and the plan for us for both here and Heaven – it is all beyond our human understanding.”

Nothing prepares you to lose your mother - the one who reared you in the womb - who fed and nourished you- both with her own body, and then her own hands. It is this being that is infinitely tied to you through a sacred thread of God’s pure grace and who was beside you at every phase of your life. Your first step, your first days of school, your graduations, your marriages - your first born. One present for your losses and tears – and feeling just as much delight as you feel among your celebrations of bliss. How can you replace that? You can’t, but we’ll hold this deep in our hearts. It’s like the consecrated gift that will continue to keep on shedding light amid our grief of darkness. This precious blessing then remained and flourished as we formed families of our own.

Diane was our Matriarch, the glue of the Bonazzo team – lover of rapture lectures, country songs (especially Willie Nelson), Mother Angelica supporter, and the biggest Neil Diamond fan. I still remember after her first time seeing Neil in concert. She exclaimed, “You have no idea how amazing that was. It was like listening to a CD – but on full blast! What an exciting experience!” She always got beyond excited over the smallest things and appreciated them greatly. Even when one of her children or grandchildren did something that was positive, on the smallest level – she made you feel like you just did the most remarkable thing. Our Mom knew how to make you feel like a million bucks.

We will never forget her love of line dancing or how she would try to drag the shyest people out on to the dance floor. Diane was our biggest cheerleader, our guard dog ready to unleash if someone mistreated us, the therapist who gave the same answers - and yet we kept on asking the same questions just in a different scenario.

Diane’s greatest excitement was becoming a Grandmother. All 13 of them were truly the lights of her life. It was apparent she breathed in gratitude every moment she had with them, and savored their presence when they were together. She spoke words of them with the utmost adoration. Just two weeks before passing, she talked about how all of her children and grandchildren are ‘so good’ and have such ‘good hearts.’

The one message she made loud and clear to all of us was – REST. Taking care of our health first  was what she repetitively encouraged. The holy rosary was her number one go to for everything and anything. We prayed the rosary as family - hand in hand around her body - on the evening that she died. Just a short time before she passed, she said, “Your Daddy is here. I can see him and feel him. He is so close; he is so excited.” Diane spoke often about her vivid dreams of Jesus as a child, and it is no wonder that some of her last words before leaving this world were, “I’m going home. Tell everyone I am going home. Good bye, I love you.” A few months back prior to her passing - there was a loss of a pet in our family. My mom said something that really stuck with me as well. She said, “You know, when there is joy or love in life, it always comes with a sacrifice. There will always be pain somehow. It’s like what you have to give in order to receive the greatest gifts. Just like when a woman is pregnant – she’s sick, uncomfortable, exhausted – and then when she holds that baby in her arms, it was all worth it. Just like when we have to put a pet to sleep, it’s such an ache in your heart. But then you got to have that unconditional love from an animal for many years - and it was such a blessing. And even when someone is married, and has to endure losing their husband or wife – you grieve for so long. But there were a hundred times that of love and happy memories, children and grandchildren - that are all just priceless in exchange.”

Today I realize, this is our sacrifice she spoke of. Every one of us is coping with a broken heart for the loss of our Mom and Grandma, Sister, Aunt, Friend. The mourning - that is the cost we bear. Yet the eternal gift she has given us is worth the sorrow. Our mother was the most thoughtful person there was. Several years ago, she prepared a special gift for each of her children in secret - and gave these to one of her daughters to hold on to until after she passed. What a comfort in such sad moments. Her children all have different (and big) personalities. But there is just one trait we all have in common - our deep rooted compassion for others. This was passed on directly from her. You would see this quality in her singing songs such as, “Be Not Afraid” to a distressed roommate in the middle of the night at her assisted living, taking a newcomer under her wing there to make her feel welcome and make sure everyone in the dining area included her, being a therapist to residents in the assisted living - especially those who were depressed. I remember one woman told Diane she didn’t have a reason to come out of her room anymore – she told Diane her life was over. Our Mom told this woman she had three choices – one was to meet her at the craft activity the next day, the next was to join her at mass on Sunday, or she could meet her at the “happy hour” they had there, but she was only allowed to have one glass of wine. Those were her choices Diane professed – and anyone staying in their room depressed was NOT an option. She would tell everyone, “I cannot see, but every day I get up and say, ‘This is the day the Lord has made – let us rejoice and be glad!”

What an incredible example for us and our children, and their children to follow. A dear friend of hers sent our family this quote the day after she passed away. “All those seeds of love she scattered -they will bloom forever.”

Diane, Mommy, Grandma, Great Grandma - There is truly now, a bountiful garden from the seeds you have scattered, of your FAITH with the sweetest aroma of flowers of hope – continuing to birth new life, and endlessly spreading the word of God throughout the world - all because of what she single-handedly started.

Diane, my Mom, is truly my hero – and I don’t mean this in a cliché sense because it sounds pleasant on an obituary. It is because she conquered and furthermore embraced the one fear that is, the most feared among the majority of humans on this Earth – Death. Not only did she not fear it – she spoke of Heaven in such a way that it was as if she was excited to go. Not of course in a negative manner, but truly and sincerely she would declare, “When the good Lord says it’s time to take me, then it’s time.” The loudest rumblings of thunder rolled and sparks of lightening danced in the sky the evening we cried out in anguish when Diane went to Jesus – but we know for certain - she again cried tears of happiness as she was reunited with our Dad in LOVE. Her deep trust still is a mystery to me and her feelings of safety as she was taken to the end - will inspire all of us forever.

She would want me to end this with her infamous promise – one that I never truly embodied until I was an adult and realized the absolute truth of: “Prayer moves mountains.” Rest in peace, Mommy – We are honored to be your family.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 4 PM - 7 PM at Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home, 109 Darlington Avenue, Ramsey. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 10 AM at Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River, NJ. Interment will follow at Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah.

In lieu of flowers Diane’s wish was for donations to be made in her name to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. She has always had a deep compassion for holocaust survivors and the homeless.

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