It feels like yesterday we were at Old Country Buffet eating carrot cake together without a care in the world. Then, all of a sudden, that world is shattered leaving only fragments behind for the rest of us to piece back together. Yet, as I pick up the fragments to make sense of this broken world, the pieces form a memory that will be treasured forever. From playing Rummikub at the kitchen table, to playing with the pens in your shirt pocket. From exploring the mysterious drawers and boxes of miscellaneous artifacts in the basement, to the even more curious gadgets in the garage. From corned beef sandwiches and the pancakes grandma used to make, to watching Gunsmoke, Rick Steves, and Rosetta Stone videos in Italian. From listening to you play the organ, harmonica, and accordion to listening to the stories of foreign cities, landscapes, and people.

These fragments are but a page of a much larger book. A book that grows bigger every day, and every day we must remember the pages we read before so that we can make sense of the story as we continue to read. If there’s anything I understand from all the pages I’ve read in this book, it’s that some of my favorite chapters were spent with you. There was so much to learn from your love, care, wisdom, curiosity, vibrance, vitality, humor, zest, and compassion. Without which, I would not be who I am today. 

What I’m trying to say is that life is a book: the pages it’s memories, and the paragraphs are the fragments that piece those memories together. Your book was long and prolific. A story like none other. A story that influenced many other stories and left it’s mark on pages of books yet to come. 

Grandpa, your story lives on through the pages of my book and the books of many others. We all  love and miss you very much. When you get a break from square dancing with grandma, tell her we miss her too. 

Love your grandson and namesake,
Frankie 

To my Cousin Frank's Family,
I know he will be greatly missed.  As one of his many cousin's
who knew him well.  I remember as a young person he would come and get me and take me either on his motorcycle or his convertible.
He always talked to me about how he loved my Dad(also my Mom). He loved his family all of us.  He is now with his beloved Emma. Who he always talked about  her to me.  
This is not easy, but he is at peace.  He is probably up there telling jokes to everybody.   He will be ever in our hearts.                                   
Take care all of you, and hang on to all of the good memories and times he has left to all of you!  You are in our prayers
Love & Peace  Cousins Buck & Marie

The world lost another great person. I had the privilege of knowing you for about 30 years. I will always hold dear the birthday parties where we shared many conversations that usually ended up with an “off the cuff” joke. My dear friend I pray you and Emma are dancing to your favorite song and I thank you for your legacy. Without you, I would not have such beautiful nephews and niece to call my family. May God Bless you with eternal life, we will miss you. 

A letter to my Grandpa

“When you’ve got a grandpa that loves you, he takes care of you.” I hear these words playing over and over in my head and it’s pains me deeply to know I won’t get to hear them from you anymore. But they could not have rang more true. Grandpa, when I look back on my childhood I think of nothing but fond memories of you and grandma. You taught me so many valuable lessons, ranging from the practical ones like burning a CD (practical at the time) or turning something off and back on again with a 90% success rate of fixing the problem, to the intangible lessons of what it means to love deeply and treasure those closest to you. You were a clever jokester and a fierce protector, a balance I’m learning as a grown man is trickier than it sounds but you seemed to have mastered it.

I’ll always remember you helping me with my “Sssss” and “th” pronunciations (I owe you a lot for that now), listening to jack Armstrong the all American boy, taking rides in the Cadillac, learning electrical work, listening to countless stories, learning how to play the piano, watching gunsmoke, playing rummikub (I’m sorry I always rearranged the board but you did always teach me to strive to win so.. that one may be on you), etc etc etc until finally… spending each holiday in the computer room with you before being called up on the intercom for dinner. I took a trip back down there after I’d heard the news and it crushed me grandpa. Everything was left exactly as I remember, right down to that big magnifying glass being right on the side table and red pencils on the desk (I know I always sharpened them for you and I sharpened a couple one last time and left them by your keyboard). 

You left an imprint on every single person you met, always being able to draw a smile. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you grandpa (both literally and metaphorically). You’ll live on in the hearts of all those that cared about you. Say hi to grandma for me. I miss you and love you.

Hi Grandpa, your favorite granddaughter here. It seams surreal to know that you are no longer with us, but we can all find comfort knowing you have been reunited with Grandma, who you so dearly missed these last few years. I can’t help but smile as I look back on so many fond memories with you. From spending hours in your office learning about history or photoshop (specifically how to photoshop someone’s head on to someone else’s body - who knows maybe that will come in handy one day), to teaching my brothers and I songs when we were little, to spending a whole summer transferring slides to the computer for you, to you teaching us the value of hard work and the benefits of being an entrepreneur, to enlightening us on how to bend the truth without technically lying (I don’t think our mom loved this one), to watching westerns with you in the TV room, to going to RoccoVino’s together (and you always hitting on the waitress), and to our very last memory together: the China Buffet that you were just so excited to take us to and I’m so thankful that we went this past month. I miss you so much Grandpa, and while you may be gone, you will never be forgotten (I will be sure to part your wisdom on my future kids). Your legacy will live on. Love, Tori

We are so sorry to hear of Frankie's passing.  He was a wonderful cousin and Godfather.  He was like a brother to my Dad.  He was a constant in our lives and always entertaining with his stories!  We will miss him greatly.  Love always, Lynne and Herman Wellin


OBITUARY

Frank Anthony Bonelli

26 April, 1927 – 8 September, 2022

Montclair-Lucania Funeral Home

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services