Sr. Rebecca Mary Bonnell, HSM

Sr. Rebecca Mary (Patricia Eileen) Bonnell was born in Tacoma, Washington on September 30, 1932 to Leslie and Helen (Stoudt) Bonnell. With her two older sisters, Dorothy and Jeanne, Sr. Rebecca Mary grew up in a caring, supportive family. She began her education at Hadden School, Bremerton and graduated from West Bremerton High School, Bremerton, Washington in 1950.

During her young adult years, Sr. Rebecca Mary worked in the accounting department of Grolier Society, Inc. (Seattle) and, for some time, as a private investigator. She attributed her pistol and rifle marksmanship to her father’s support. After her conversion to Catholicism in 1956, she was an active member of Sacred Heart Parish (Seattle, WA) with a special involvement with the Legion of Mary. Jesuit Father Russell Boehning guided her journey to the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. She entered the SSMO community on August 15, 1965 and professed perpetual vows as a consecrated religious on August 15, 1972.

Attuned to God’s direction for her life, Sr. Rebecca Mary discerned God’s call to the eremitical life. With SSMO Sr. Beverly Greger, Sr. Rebecca Mary co-founded the Hermit Sisters of Mary at Marymount Hermitage in Mesa, ID (1984) and professed Canonical Hermit vows July 13, 1988 under the guidance of Boise, Idaho Bishop Sylvester Treinen. Sr. Rebecca Mary celebrated her 50th Jubilee as a consecrated woman religious in 2015.

As a Sister of St. Mary of Oregon and professionally prepared with a BS in Education degree from Marylhurst College (1969), Sr. Rebecca Mary taught 3rd and 4th grade students at Holy Cross (Portland) and St. Mary of the Valley (Beaverton). Her 11 years in the classroom were characterized by her dedication to sharing the Good News of God’s love with creativity, educational excellence, and a prayer-filled love for each student.

Sr. Rebecca Mary’s 40 years living in prayer, solitude and simplicity impacted the Mesa, Idaho community and the visitors and retreatants at Marymount Hermitage. During her years as a Hermit Sister of Mary, she developed a deep relationship with God and an appreciation for God’s creation. She appreciated nature—loving the gifts of the desert, especially the summer wildflowers which, collected and dried, she used to create beautiful greeting cards. In addition to meditation, the solitude allowed her to develop as poet and author, writing a trilogy of children’s books about God’s love. She supplemented her prayer of the Divine Office and the Eucharist with songs she composed, both in Hebrew and English, and sang accompanied by her guitar. She studied Biblical Hebrew, delighting in understanding, speaking and writing the language Christ used. She was blessed and personally enriched by a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Sr. Rebecca Mary’s spirituality focused on the Eucharist and Divine Mercy. Her life embodied the mercy she received from Jesus, the mercy and compassion she gave to others, and her faithful trust in Jesus.

In interactions with Sr. Rebecca Mary, one always experienced her wit and humor, her individual care, kindness and compassion, and her deeply rooted-in-prayer wisdom. Aware of the concerns of the world, the local and universal Church, retreatants, friends and family, she remembered these faithfully in her daily prayer.

Sr. Rebecca Mary passed away on December 20, 2024 at the SSMO Motherhouse. She is missed with love and appreciation for the blessing of her life by Paul and Roberta Halcomb, her sister Jeanne Rose, her nieces and nephews, her fellow Hermit Sister of Mary, Sister Beverly Greger, her SSMO Sisters, her SSMO Infirmary caregivers, and her dear Idaho friends. Sr. Rebecca Mary Bonnell was preceded in death by her parents Leslie and Helen (Stoudt) Bonnell and her sister Dorothy Mann.

Memorial offerings may be directed to Marymount Hermitage, 2150 Hermitage Ln, Mesa, ID 83643.

May Sr. Rebecca Mary rest in God’s loving embrace!