La Vonne Marie Mosher Sanks

SANKS, “Bonnie” LaVonne Marie (Mosher) LaVonne Marie (Mosher) Sanks – “Bonnie” – age 92 passed away peacefully at Church of Christ Care Center, Clinton Township, Michigan. Born in 1923 in Toledo, Ohio, Bonnie was the only child of Marvin and Gertrude Mosher. She attended Waite High School and graduated with the Class of 1940. Bonnie married Irving Sanks in 1941 and traveled with him throughout his tour of duty in the United States Army Air Corp during WWII. Bonnie was a mother to many; both by birthright and by association. She would say that raising her six children was her greatest accomplishment. She dearly loved all of her kids and was so proud of her grand and great grandchildren. Bonnie and Irv added to their growing family by welcoming Marta (Vence) Welch who sought refuge in the US from Cuba as a young girl and lived with them for 2 years. Bonnie loved to cook and entertain family and friends. Many a Sunday picnic was held at Bonnie and Irv’s and if you went hungry “why it was your own damn fault”. Bonnie had a green thumb and always had gardens that were the envy of all who came upon them whether they were a quarter acre, in a greenhouse or a small 10 by 20 foot plot. Her pride and joy, though, were her roses, which at one count was 92 beautiful rose bushes in her yard. She developed an interest in still photography that captured the beauty of her roses beyond the growing season. Bonnie was a self-starter and not one that you easily held back. She raised chickens and sold eggs as well as produce from the garden; she was a door-to-door Avon Lady. She was the first Administrative Assistant helping to open Manor Care Nursing Home in 1979. She assisted in starting the first Mother’s Club at Cardinal Stritch High School and was first president of the Stritch ‘Biretta Club’. She had a deep and profound dedication to Christ and her Church, St. Ignatius Parish. She served as Eucharistic Minister taking the sacrament to the homebound, was a member of the Altar Rosary Society, Christian Formation helper, festival volunteer and past secretary of the Parish Council. She delivered Mobile Meals to the elderly and was a member of the St. Charles Hospital Auxiliary. She was a band parent, a den mother, a loving friend and a listening ear for those in need. Bonnie was preceded in death by her mother and father, her daughter Carol Marie Sanks-Fuller and son-in-law John (Bob) Critch. She is survived by her children: Douglas (Debbie) Sanks, Mary (William) Graham, Kathy Sanks, David (Jenny) Sanks and Terri (Sanks) Gocsik; grandchildren: Dawn (Chris) Imershein, John Critch, Michelle (Brad) Park, Eric (Linda) Sanks, Ben (Shandra Salter) Graham and Caitlin Hawkins; great grandchildren: Sarah and Gannon Critch, Harrison and Caroline Park, Lucas and Julian Imershein, Theodore, Archer and Odin Sanks and William Graham III. She also leaves behind her long-term care giver who was like a daughter to her – Dawn Keatley. Bonnie’s family extends their deep gratitude to all who cared for her over the last few years namely the staff at Sunrise on Vernier Assisted Living in Grosse Pointe Shores, MI, Church of Christ Care Center and Great Lakes Caring Hospice. So many wonderful people enriched her life and she theirs. A special thank you to those who eased her pain during her final days. Family and friends may visit and reminisce with Bonnie’s family on Sunday, October 18, 2015 from 2:00 – 8:00pm at Hoeflinger-Bolander Funeral Home, 3500 Navarre Avenue, Oregon, Ohio 43616 where a prayer service will be held on Sunday at 7:00 pm. Funeral services on Monday, will begin Instate at 9:00am followed by The funeral mass at 10:00am at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 212 N.Stadium Road, Oregon, Ohio 43616. Interment will be at St. Ignatius Cemetery. A celebration luncheon will follow at 11:00am. The family asks that contributions in Bonnie’s honor be made to Cardinal Stritch High School, Oregon, Ohio. hoeflingerfuneralhome.com