Nancy Rose Bodnar

Nancy Rose Bodnar, age 94 of Ontario California, passed away on Tuesday, September 13, 2016. She was born to the late Frank Barbarossa and Beatrice Barbarossa on August 17, 1922 in Norwich, Connecticut.

Before moving to Ontario California with her husband, Steve Bodnar, and four children in 1955, she helped her mother and father in a small self-owned Italian food market on Washington Street. She was also an active member of the Italian American club.

Nancy attended Broadway Grammar School and Norwich Free Academy. While her husband was in the Army Air Corps during WW II, she was a telephone operator living in San Francisco, California in the early to mid-1940's; later returning to Norwich. After moving to Ontario, Nancy became a salesperson and purchaser for various department stores including Lerner’s clothing store and Gemmel’s Drug Store in Ontario. She was an active member of the Travelers Club and the Fun After 50 club and a lifelong member of St. George Catholic Church.

Family was Nancy’s passion and delight. She grew up spending summers and vacations with her family and relatives at Newport Beach, California and Sunday dinner gatherings as was the Italian tradition of her upbringing.

Nancy is survived by her two sons, Stephen and Frank Bodnar, eight Grandchildren and their spouses, and sixteen Great Grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank all her friends and those who cared and loved her over the many years of her beautiful life.

A visitation will be held at Draper Mortuary, 811 N. Mountain Avenue, Ontario, California on Thursday, September 22, 2016 from 5:00-8:00 PM. A funeral service will take place at Draper Mortuary on the morning of Friday, September 23, 2016 at 10:00 AM. Father Patrick Kirsch will preside.

Online condolences can me left on Nancy Bodnar’s Memorial Tribute at http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Nancy-Bodnar&lc=4515&pid=181439284&mid=7091207&cid=em.legacy.dm.4515.7091207.