Antoinette D'Armata Bonno

Antoinette was born in Houston, Texas on the 14th of August 1930, to Sicilian-American parents. Her father, Louis, emigrated to the United States, as did her mother, Rose’s, parents. As an only child in a close-knit family, Antoinette considered her cousins, Frank and Anthony “Buddy” D’Armata, her brothers, helping them with their homework, attending many school functions with them and spending time together. Antoinette graduated from Sacred Heart Catholic School, St. Agnes Academy and attended The Dominican College in Houston, forging life-long friendships along the way. One of her greatest thrills was to attend her 70th high school reunion with classmates, some of whom she had known since kindergarten. She took pride in her education and passed that on to her children and grandchildren. As a sophomore in high school, she met the love of her life, Frank J. Bonno, Jr. After Frank returned from serving his country during the Korean War, they were married on June 5th, 1954. Antoinette and Frank started their family with four children in rapid succession, keeping her and Frank busy throughout their childhood years.

As a child, Antoinette was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral where she served on the Ladies of the Altar, whose duties included preparing the altar for mass. Antoinette became an active member of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church Community for 54 years, serving as a CCD teacher, church cantor, epistle reader, and Eucharistic minister. She was a charter member of the St. Michael chapter of the Catholic Daughters of America, The Women’s Guild, Sociable Seniors, a member of the Charity Guild of St. Joseph and belonged to her Briarmeadow Bible Study group for almost 40 years. Her love for St Michael was passed on to her children. They all attended St. Michael parish school. All of her children and one grandchild were married at St. Michael and four of her grandchildren attended the parish school.

A true performer, Antoinette’s love of music was nurtured at an early age by her father. They would spend hours singing together. She mastered the piano, memorizing 100’s of pieces of music. In high school, she and Frank performed together in Theatre Arts. She continued to sing and play piano throughout her entire life. She gave the gift of music to her children and grandchildren and taught piano to many in the community. Some of her grandchildren’s fondest memories are of sitting with Mommo Nett, playing the piano, and her singing them to sleep with nursery rhymes.

As Antoinette grew older and began to need memory care, The Amazing Place welcomed her into their day program. She looked forward to each day at The Amazing Place and didn’t want to be “late for school!” A talented artist in her younger years, it was at The Amazing Place that Antoinette rediscovered her love of painting. She became a prolific artist in her 80’s, giving the gift of her wonderful artwork to her children and grandchildren each year for four Christmases in a row—58 paintings! And there are still so many more to give. Several of her paintings were chosen by The Amazing Place for their notecard sets, which as she used to say, “tickled her pink!”

Antoinette was a wonderful and much-loved mother and grandmother. She was very active with her family, never wanting to miss out on any family gatherings. Family was the center of her life. She made it a priority for her children to meet and maintain contact with their relatives in Palermo, Sicily and Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Her family will always cherish the deeply warm and funny memories they have of her and the times spent together. May she forever “rest her eyes,” something she used to say when she was tired but never wanted to leave a party.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Rosa Maria Villagomez, Antoinette’s caregiver and friend. She and Antoinette had a special bond. Antoinette spoke to Rosa in Italian and Rosa always understood what Antoinette wanted and needed at just the right time.

Antoinette was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Joseph Bonno, Jr.; her parents Louis and Rose D’Armata. She is survived by her four children, Frank Michael Bonno and his wife, Debra, Rosanne Bonno Sicola and her husband, John, Louis Anthony Bonno and his wife, Terry, Thomas Gerard Bonno and his wife, Robin; her grandchildren, Jana Rose Sicola, Toni Elizabeth Sicola and her husband Loren Rothman, Zachary Bonno, Christina Whitehurst and her husband Preston, Claire Bonno, Frank M. Bonno, Jr., Ariel Bonno, Steven Bonno, David Bonno and Briana Bonno; and her great-grandchildren, Michael Weldon and Ava Giuliana Whitehurst.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 27th of July, in the Jasek Chapel and grand foyer here at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where a recitation of the Holy Rosary will commence in our Jasek Chapel at seven o’clock. Those unable to attend the rosary may view the livestream on Facebook. The direct link is available by selecting "Join Livestream" where this event is announced below.

Family and friends will gather once again for visitation at nine o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 28th of July, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road in Houston, where a Mass of Christian Burial is to be offered at ten o’clock, celebrated by the Rev. Leon Strieder. Again, as with the rosary, those unable to attend the service may view the livestream on Facebook by selecting "Join Livestream" where the mass is announced below.

KINDLY NOTE: due to the COVID-19 safety protocols in place at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, attendance is limited and guests’ temperatures will be taken upon entry and must be wearing a mask.

The Rite of Committal will immediately follow, via escorted cortège, in the Memorial Mission Mausoleum at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston. While masks and social distancing remain a requirement, there are no attendance restrictions for this service.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in her name be directed to St. Agnes Academy, 9000 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX, 77036; or to Amazing Place, 3735 Drexel Dr., Houston, TX, 77027.