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Betty Bonathan
Born: 11/14/1935
Died: 5/18/2018
Age: 82
Community: Flint, MI
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BONATHAN, Betty, 82, retired school teacher and trail blazer in the field of adoption, passed away peacefully at 8:30am on Friday, May 18, 2018.
Her final days were spent bathed in the warm sunlight from the bay windows overlooking her wooded garden. Her daughter Kathryn and son Benjamin were at her side.
The youngest of 3 daughters, Betty was born in Flint on November 14, 1935 to Dr. Alvin & Mrs Estelle Bonathan. She thrived during Flint's boom time and lived there all her life. A graduate of Kalamazoo College and member of Delta Kappa Gamma, she taught Elementary school in downtown Flint for 30 years.
In the early 1970's she helped pioneer international single parent adoption, helping to push through legislation that opened the door for others to follow. Shortly thereafter she came home with two adopted girls from Korea, and some years later, two more from India.
At 50 she adopted a baby boy, Ben, and retired to raise him. In the early 1990’s she began to foster newborn infants and loved it so much she finished her foster tenure having cared for over 80 babies.
Betty was known by all who knew her for her eternal optimism and friendliness. She loved to laugh and loved jokes both funny and…not. She was renowned for her conversational marathons; she could, as she herself would say, talk an ear off a horse. Fearless and adventurous, her life was a testament to what a single woman can accomplish. As the old Enjoli ad goes, she could bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan; she could do anything and she did.
Betty is survived by four daughters and son and their families; her sister Nancy, her nephew David and his family, and her niece Marcia and her family. Her dog and 3 cats will miss her very much too.
The family extends warm gratitude to Marcie and Melissa from Kindred Hospice and to her wonderfully caring neighbors and friends.
A memorial service will be held at Resurrection Reformed Church, 5225 Calkins Road, Flint MI at 11AM on Saturday, May 26, 2018. Pastors Kristi and Doug Kiel officiating.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in her name to Carriage Town Mission on Garland St, Flint MI
Your condolences may be shared with the family at swartzfuneralhomeinc.com
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| Visitation |
| Date: |
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5/19/2018 |
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| Funeral Service |
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5/26/2018 |
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11:00 AM |
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Resurrection Reformed Church
5225 Calkins Road
Flint, MI Get a Map to this location...
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| Official: |
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Pastors Kristi and Doug Kiel |
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