Margaret Bonifaci
February 20, 1923 – January 21, 2012
Margaret Clenora Bonifaci passed away on January 21, 2012 at Kitsap Hospice at age 88 years, surrounded by family.
She was born in South Dakota to Norwegian immigrant parents Martin and Marie Josund. The family soon moved to a farm in western Oregon. “It was like a garden of Eden compared to South Dakota,” she would say. Then to Port Angeles, where her father worked as a carpenter during the depression.
Margaret graduated from Port Angeles High School. In 1940 she moved to Seattle and enrolled in Griffin Business College, and went to work at Seidelhuber Iron Works as stenographer and later, private secretary to the manager. While there she met an engineering student who came to do drafting work at odd times between his classes at the UW. Leonard had never been interested in spectator sports, but suddenly began taking Margaret to baseball games, and then roller skating. Then he built a portable darkroom in her apartment so that she and her roommate Margie could develop and print their own photographs.
Margaret and Len were married on October 28, 1944. They lived in various places around Puget Sound from Mercer Island, Marysville, Vashon Island, and West Seattle, finally building a home on Bainbridge Island in 1972. An avid gardener, every time she moved with her husband she would establish new organic gardens at each house, lamenting that the worst part of moving was having “to leave all that good soil” she had created behind. Many family gatherings included meals that were entirely home grown.
One of her (and everyone else’s) favorites was her wild blackberry pies. She also enjoyed sailing, with many trips all over Puget Sound and British Columbia, including two trips to southeast Alaska with her family. In the 1970’s she worked as a cook at the First Methodist Church in downtown Seattle, routinely turning out lunch for 200 every Sunday. In 1974 she was a member of the first graduating class of WSU Extension Service Master Gardeners, then continued to volunteer for 30 years, serving as the Kitsap Master Gardeners Foundation president and their longest serving member.
Margaret is survived by her husband Leonard, sister Marie Lunsford of Whidbey Island, WA, children Linda Swartz (Bill) of Randle, WA, Carol Bonifaci of Seattle, WA, Bruce Bonifaci (Barbara Baker) of Bainbridge Island, WA, Brian Bonifaci (Angela) of Bainbridge Island, WA, and six grandchildren.
A memorial service is to be held at Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, Bainbridge Island, WA on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at 1:00 pm. Remembrances may be made to Hospice of Kitsap County.
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