This week we celebrate the life of our sweet Bonnie! Our Bonnie is remembered in so many ways throughout Valley Home. It was in this autumn month of last October, that we realized we would only have Bonnie with us for a very, very short time. Not knowing how short our time was, our Valley Home Community within a few hours put together an “Early Christmas Parade”! The lighted parade with cars lined up for at least a mile or more, paid one final tribute past the home of this amazing woman we all love so much! Bonnie always loved being a part of our Valley Home Community Lighted Christmas Parade. It is a cherished memory.

Bonnie also loved to take part in the school Halloween Festivities! She loved dressing up and shared her many costumes; her happy attitude brought joy to each of her students. She taught her students that they could be anything they wanted to be, just be sure to be happy! Bonnie would always make sure every child had a costume for our annual school Halloween Parade and the class parties that followed. Her enthusiasm and zest for life was contagious! Everyone who knew Bonnie enjoyed being in her presence.

Each year after she had enjoyed all the Halloween Festivities at school, she would immediately start preparing for our Annual Lighted Community Christmas Parade. One of our greatest memories is the Christmas she decorated the front of her school bus with her prized elk horns! With tons of colorful Christmas lights glistening all over her bus ... literally everywhere ... and with every window open, students’ joyful voices would sing out, sending holiday cheer all throughout Valley Home. What a special time we all enjoyed together!

As last autumn approached, we all realized that there would be no more school Halloween Parades, no more Christmas Parades on earth ... Our sweet Bonnie would celebrate these in Heaven. Our community decided to honor Bonnie in the ways we knew would keep her sweet memory alive forever. Her Valley Home students have created the most beautiful tribute to her with “Bonnie’s Closet.” Housed at Valley Home School, “Bonnie’s Closet” deeply appreciates your donations of gently used clothing, shoes, coats, etc.

Our School Gym now honors Bonnie; with a very generous and heartfelt donation from the Cox Family, our school gym is now known as the “Bonnie Gellerman Multi-Purpose Room.”

Throughout the year students and all who love her continued to honor Bonnie in amazing ways. On July 31, 2021 folks came from miles around to “Honor Our Sweet Bonnie and All Who Fight Cancer” ... it was a very special day! This week as we once again see the beautiful autumn leaves fluttering gently to the ground, we are reminded of the beautiful, caring woman who will forever live in each of our hearts! As our sweet Bonnie would want, we remember all who fight this battle ... May God bless and protect each of you!

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As always you may reach me by email at winniemullins51@gmail.com or by telephone at 209-985-5233.

Until next time, “Happy Trails To All!”