Doris Marie Bonino
April 2, 1920-Oct. 17, 2016
Belmont, California

Doris Marie Bonino was 96 years old when she passed away on October 17th, 2016.

She was born in San Francisco, CA, on April 2, 1920, the 7th of nine children for her parents, Robert William Johnson and Hazel Margaret (Holliday).

She attended Balboa High School and through mutual friends met her husband to be, Richard T. Bonino. They were married in 1939.

They moved to Redwood City, CA, to be near Italian relatives around 1948 and eventually moved with their two sons to Menlo Park, where they lived for over 20 years until they retired to Sonora, CA.

They remained there happily for many years until health reasons brought them back down to Menlo Park. Doris shared 58 wonderful years of marriage with her husband until his death in 1997.

She truly became the family matriarch as she outlived all of her siblings: Berdie Carlson, Harry Johnson, Virginia Johnson, Hazel Ahlberg, Robert Johnson, Allan Johnson, Helen Johnson and Ray Johnson.

Doris was a vibrant, energetic woman who took great pride in her homemaking skills and was absolutely devoted to her family.

She and her husband were also foster parents for at least two children during their early years.

Doris loved to crochet and created many beautiful pieces for friends and loved ones. She taught others to crochet at Little House Senior Center in Menlo Park and was given a special award for her volunteer work there.

Doris also enjoyed cooking and was well known for her "stuffed eggs," which have become a family holiday tradition.

At one time, she worked for a local caterer, adding her precise touch to the preparation of the appetizers.

During her younger years, she was in a bowling league and volunteered at the Nativity Church Teen Club.

After her husband passed, she did volunteer work through Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, helping a little child with physical therapy.

Doris will always be remembered for her outstanding organizational skills, her animated conversation, her dedication to home and family, and above all, her willingness to help others. Doris is survived by her two sons, Richard John Bonino of Menlo Park (wife Pam), and Stephen Robert Bonino of King’s Mtn., North Carolina (wife Pat), seven grandchildren: Annette Jackson of Kennewick, WA (husband Darren), Lisa Mitchell of Menlo Park, CA (husband Mark), Tracy Pillado of Grover, NC (husband Paul) , Jennifer Harris of Auborn, Alabama (husband Jason), and Stephen Bonino (wife Laura), Christina Suttle (husband Joe) and Corey Bonino (wife Paula) all of Shelby, NC. There are 20 great-grandchildren, 14 in North Carolina, 3 in Alabama and 3 in Menlo Park, CA and 2 great–great grandchildren in Grover, NC.