Place of birth

Bonniesue was Born in Germany while her father was there serving for our country Norma went to go visit and the rest is history. Bonniesue grew up on a farm in oswego, illinois where she met her high school sweetheart and the father of her 3 daughters leonard fanaro. She moved to California around the age of 30 after her youngest daughter was born and spent most her adult life in grass valley california. In later years she moved back to the country this time in Bentonville Arkansas where she spent the final yrs of her life enjoying the simple life with her current husband now widdow Thomas Allen.

Most recently lived in

Bentonville, AR

Bonniesue's favorite hobbies

Swimming, dancing, singing, playing with all her grandchildren,riding horses, coloring, making jewelry, panning for gold and constantly fighting with technology 😁 She also loved to get lost in long phone conversations with her loved ones. Bonniesue was a very kind soul and would give anyone who showed her kindness the shirt off her back. She enjoyed her daily rituals with her husband, reading the daily bread every morning and have a small Bible study with eachother to keep eachother grounded in Jesus!

Bonniesue's favorite foods

Steak and baked potatoes

Favorite bands and musical artists

Stevie Nix, Heart, Journey, Billy Idol, Motley Crue, Poison, Madonna, Fleetwood Mac...

Interesting facts about Bonniesue

Bonniesue was once an avid horse rider, in fact her first job was at a horse ranch in the Chicago suburbs called Whispering Winds. That same ranch is where she originally got her front teeth knocked out by getting too close to the back side of a horse and it kicked her right in the face. She was lucky it didn't kill her.. She had such an adventurous spirit from a young age I've been told. Things like that didn't even fase her. She was a life long animal lover she has had some of the most amazing dogs throughout her life that definitely left pawprints on her heart.. When her youngest daughter was around 7 Bonniesue and then husband use to take her to the river with there mountain dog named Timber. Long story short she got out of Bonniesues reach and kept floating down the fast current. Her dog never leaving Amanda's side grabbed her by the collar on her bathing suit and pulled her to the nearest rock for safety... I'll never forget that dog. Bonniesue always trained her animals herself through the years and therefore teaching us the importance of a close relationship and constant training of all domestic animals.. truly her passion was always horses though.

Bonniesue loved nothing more than

Spending time with her 7 grandchildren and her partners grandchildren and her three daughters.

Favorite place in the world

She told me once she never thought she would end up in California of all places. She was a farm girl at heart, but the California sun called to her....

Favorite TV shows

The price is right, House, history Channel and the discovery Channel were her favorites.

Favorite sports

High School attended

Oswego illinois High school

Bonniesue's parents

Ronald (pint) Drews Norma Jean Drews

Bonniesue's siblings

Terrie Lynn Drews, Steven Drews

Bonniesue's children

Jennifer Anne Lopez (Fanaro) Nicole Renée Ulrich (Fanaro) Amanda Lynn Fanaro

Bonniesue's proudest accomplishments

She said her proudest moments in life was when she had the chance to be a mother. She would say my 3 girls are my everything... She also said making the choice to live out her retirement years with the love of her life and moving to the country in Arkansas was the best decision she ever made..

Favorite musical instrument

Guitar

A woman who loved everyone with every ounce of herself.

Bonniesue had a tough start in life. If she wasn't at school she was helping around the house with her siblings and the farm.. Her father was a carpenter/plumber by trade and built 3 houses in his lifetime for his family. Bonniesue being the oldest of 3 had many responsibilities growing up and she did everything in a graceful loving manner even though she was quietly battling mental illness as a child. Throughout her life she battled not only mental health issues but also some very dark moments in life. She finally gave up the fight and gave her life to Jesus. Little did she know though that God wasn't done teaching her life lessons just yet... She has had many accidents and surgeries Throughout her life that would eventually pearlized her in the end. Bonniesue battled with a disease called Myelomalacia. Myelomalacia is a somewhat rare condition that results in a softening of the spinal cord. Not many people are even aware of this condition, but it is extremely serious and can even be deadly. Knowing the signs and symptoms of myelomalacia can help in the course of early treatment. Unfortunately they didn't catch it early enough and she re injured an old spinal surgery and in the end she was paralyzed from the chest down for the last 8 years of her life. It was nothing short of a miracle that her husband Thomas Allen stepped up to be her full time care taker... And through the years of caring for her in a different way just brought the two of them even closer to Jesus and eachother. When they wernt nagging at eachother on what shows they were going to watch they truly were building a love that was unbreakable. My mother was an amazing human. And brought nothing but love and acceptance wherever she went... She had countless friends back in Grass Valley and Illinois that loved her unconditionally... She may have struggled in her early years by not being capable of being the type of mother she always wanted to be but despite that her daughters grew up to be the best of friends and that is the legacy she left behind. (Quoted by Jennifer Lopez her oldest daughter) We love you so much Bonniesue, but it's time to rest now. Your in no more pain. No more heartaches.. No more of this cruel world! Fly high mommy, untill we meet again. All our love, Jenny, Nikki, and Mandy....