UPDATE 9/25/24: There will be a Northern California Celebration of Life for Bonnie - or as she called it, her Departing Party - on Thursday October 24, in Palo Alto. For more information, email Brett ([email protected]).
Bonnie B. Anderson passed away peacefully on May 30, 2024, surrounded by family in Orange, California. Known for her warm smile and welcoming spirit, Bonnie dedicated her life to service, creativity, and humor. An avid quilter, swimmer, gardener, and baker, she was always thinking of new ways to bring people together—whether through her cookie parties or her unforgettable 60th birthday “prom.” She took pride in creating a home that was warm and inviting to everyone.
Bonnie was born in Highland, Illinois, and grew up in Denver, Colorado, where she developed her spirited nature as a pom-pom girl and synchronized swimmer. She graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in nursing, and her career reflected her deep commitment to caregiving. Bonnie served as a Peace Corps nurse in Choluteca, Honduras and later as a Nurse Practitioner at Stanford Hospital and the Palo Alto VA Medical Center. Her ability to offer support and levity through challenging experiences brightened the lives of family, friends, colleagues, and patients alike.
She is survived by her daughter, Brett Anderson (fiancé Edward Breckenridge); her son, Daniel Ryan Anderson (wife Jen, grandson Parker, and granddaughters Elle, Isla, and Lark); and her brother, Mike (wife Donna). She was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Becky, and her former husband and lifelong friend, Leith Anderson. Arrangements handled by Dimond & Shannon Mortuary in Garden Grove, CA.
A Southern California Celebration of Bonnie’s life was held on June 22 at the Quail Hill Community Center in Irvine, California.
We greatly appreciate everyone who participated in person, online, and asynchronously. Thank you to those who shared memories, wrote poems, dug up photos, traveled and took time off work, brought food, sent flowers, helped behind the scenes, and made donations in her name. It is heartwarming to see how many people showed up to honor the impact Bonnie made during her life and will continue to make as we carry on her memory.
Please feel free to continue contributing to this site, which will remain open indefinitely for photos, videos, and notes.
SHARE OBITUARYSHARE
v.1.11.6