Sr Bonaventure Bannerman

The following was written by Sister Sue Cosgrove as a eulogy at Sister Bonny's funeral:

Have you ever had that sense of really belonging somewhere? Of that belonging being because of a bond with someone? That belonging and bond, for me, are connected with Sister Bonaventure and the Home of Compassion in Timaru. I first met Sister Bonaventure as a teenager. My sisters and I, along with Wendy Kissel, used to go up to St Vianney’s on Saturdays and during the holidays to help the Sisters! Bonny, as Sister came to be known, loved us and made us feel so welcome, and so useful, that we found her hard to resist. Bonny instilled confidence in us and stretched us beyond where we had been before. In between the work that we did (polices etc that we have today would have ruled us out completely!) Bonny helped us get the “HOC Ensemble” together - a violin, a flute, a melodica, a piano and conductor. As with so many others, Bonny took a personal interest in our studies and always had a note of congratulations or condolences as the case maybe.

I asked different Sisters where Bonny was born – the immediate response was – in a Hotel! Jean Marie Bannerman was born in 1910 in a hotel in Mangonui in the far north. Her parents George and Christina were the Hotel keepers. Just a few years later Bonny’s father went to war, went missing and never returned.

Bonny was destined from an early age to venture into the unknown and to have a sure sense of herself, as at age 4, she went to Boarding school in New Plymouth with the Mission Sisters. The saving grace here was having Sr Helena’s family befriend her – their home became hers.

Sr Bonaventure entered the Sisters of Compassion in 1938 having completed an Arts degree and her Teacher training. Over the years I have meet people who were influenced by Bonny. Whilst teaching in our school at Island Bay many student teachers were lucky enough to have placements there – Puis X was the learning place for several of our Sisters and several lay folk like Wendy Orsman and Pat Monahan.

I would venture to say that the happiest years of Bonny’s life would have been in Timaru. She went there in 1963. It was about that time that we had many young women from Tonga and Fiji coming to work in out Home of Compassion. I know we loved going up to what was known as the School room. Bonny was in her element as she helped these young ones better their English and adjust to life in such a foreign place. Bonny loved these girls and the stories that could be told are legend.

I think we would all agree that Bonny quietly enjoyed being “agin the government” so to speak and she went all out to support whatever activities might make life happier.

It was Bonny who worked behind the scenes to allow the Tongan girls in Timaru to attend a Rugby match – nothing less than the Tongans vs South Canterbury. Or the trip down to the wharf to be entertained by Tongan sailors! It was Bonny who knew who to connect with whom, when homesickness and struggle got the better of one or other of the girls – different families in Timaru played a part in getting the situation back onto an even keel.

Many stories define this era in our history as Sisters of Compassion. They are stories worth remembering because they give expression to a unique time in our history and to a period of transition in the life of our Congregation. It was just post Vatican 11 and we were beginning to value the need we had for co- workers in our Mission – our care for the elderly and disabled in particular. Bonny will be remembered for generations to come. Babies born in Tonga to the families of those girls were named after her – either Bonaventure or Timaru. But the jewels in the crown were the twins born to Eileeni and Henry, in Timaru. Eileeni was talking with Sr Rae just yesterday – Jean and Pauline have double degrees one a lawyer the other a teacher. Another huge highlight for Bonny was her trip to Tonga in 1987. Hulita was there at the time and she said nothing held her back – not a moment was wasted as she met many of the women who had been in Timaru.

Bonny came to Wanganui in 1990 and to the Rest Home 5 years ago. Here at Aubert Home our co – workers have shone out. Over the years they, the staff and Sisters, have with unconditional love and compassion, cared for Bonny. They shared burdens that were hard to carry at times – they truly rejoiced in and celebrated the good times. As I walked around the Home yesterday the buzz word was “Bonny”. Bonny stood up for us one staff member said – she was such a character said another; we loved her as she loved us said yet another. Oh yes, she was bossy someone commented, but we knew where we stood and she was true to herself. I remember Bonny telling my Mother that Aubert Home was the only place the end your days – ring the bell she said and a nice cup of tea arrives! And if you were lucky a glass of stout.

Bonny’s humour, her tenacity, her clarity, her generosity of spirit, her loyalty are touchstones we will remember. Bonny is the reason we have gathered here today.

Bonny surrender her spirit just last Tuesday 4th October. The struggle dissipated, she let go, as gentle as silence, to be with her Creator, her God to whom she had faithfully given her life. Whatever her last thought or image was, we will never know but it etched a warm glow on her face and peace surrounded her. Fr Lee was on hand with every blessing, an anointing, an apostolic blessing and Mass offered all with in 15 minutes. Sr ‘Alisi, a very special friend of Bonny, was there to say “Let go, Bonny, Mary is waiting for you”.

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