On Friday, May 5, 2023, we said goodbye to Bonnie Lynn MacKenzie. At 72 years old, she passed away peacefully with her lifelong partner and husband Tom by her side. Bonnie was a wife, a mother, a mother-in-law, a grandmother, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, and one of the kindest human beings to ever walk this earth. Bonnie devoted her entire life to her family, and it was her mission to spread joy.
She was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. In the sixties she met the love of her life, a young man from Glengarry, Nova Scotia, Tom MacKenzie. They married in 1970. Bonnie and Tom were the type of couple that married folks aspire to be. Through the years, they always maintained an amazing bond. They loved to chat with one another, listen to music, and talk about the kids and grandkids. The basis of their relationship was laughter. She would often say that she married her best friend, and that friendship was the most critical component to a successful marriage. Tom and Bonnie started having kids in 1975 when Tom Jr was born followed by Brad in 1979. They left the big city for rural Nova Scotia raising the boys in the sticks in homes in Saint Paul’s and on the River Road. Through the 80s and 90s Tom and Bon moved to Pictou and started a small construction business. When Bonnie was not driving the boys to hockey, soccer, swimming, skateboarding, or any of the hundred other things they were into, she was keeping the house in order and looking after the books for Tom’s business. She would often say that the years in Pictou were some of the best parts of her life. In the mid-90s a dream of Bonnie’s came true when she opened Sunrise Convenience just off the Pictou Rotary. She ran the store for a few years before selling it and the store is still active today. Goes to show that Bonnie wasn’t just good at making lasagna and doing payroll, she had a great business sense and a great personality behind the counter as well.
She took immense pride in making sure that her family was looked after. Everyone’s needs were always a priority above her own. While raising kids and running a business, she also became a caregiver for family members dealing with health issues. Tom and Bonnie spent several years moving between Nova Scotia and Ontario so that Bonnie could provide care to family members; her sister Karen, her father Doug, and her mother Vera. True sacrifice, her goal was always to make others feel comfortable and feel good about themselves. Every single step of the way she was there whether it was driving to the city for appointments, nights spent sleeping in a chair beside someone doing treatments, grocery shopping, and food prep for Vera later in life. When Karen passed away in 2002, her son Al was welcomed into the family with open arms. Al became another son, a younger brother to Tom and Brad.
She absolutely loved her daughters-in-law, Heidi and Lorena. They shared a love of laughing, decorating, plants, and of course lobster on Mother’s Day. In 2008, she became a grandmother to Reed and wow, she was thrilled and in love with him. The next year came Penny and Summer, two granddaughters, who gave her so much pride. She beamed with joy each and every time they were together. The perfect grandmother, compliments and praise no matter what the kids were into; an impromptu scrabble game, making crafts, six sheets of cookies, and of course the Christmas tradition of making gingerbread houses with Kenny and Dolly cranked in the background.
She taught us that kindness and family are the most important things in life. We will carry this with us and think about her every day. Your place in our lives will be forever missed. Love you more!
No service by request. Donations may be made in Bonnie’s name to Viola’s Place Society, 189 Marsh St., New Glasgow, NS, B2H 4R8. Arrangements under the direction of R.H. Porter Funeral Home.