(1978 Hilltop High School Graduate)
Bonnie G. Oberlin, 64, passed away on Sunday, October 6, 2024, surrounded by love, in comfort and peace.
Bonnie woke every day choosing love, health, and humor. She infused these choices into all aspects of her life despite any challenge faced, which allowed her to truly live her life and support others to do the same.
She was born March 8, 1960, in Hudson, Michigan, the daughter of Frankie (Jermeay) and Gordon Robey. She was a 1978 graduate of Hilltop High School. Bonnie made caring for her family and her health her most important job.
Bonnie was a lifelong learner, which included training in business, nursing, American Sign Language, and alternative medicine.
She fostered this value in others through her work as a para educator in preschool and elementary schools and witnessed this in others while being a science fair judge at local, district, and regional levels.
She loved reading and combing through the stacks at the library. No subject unturned, though her favorites were health and wellness, gardening, and the natural world. If she didn’t know the answer, she would find it.
Humor was Bonnie’s cure for all that ails and the glue that binds. She could often be found making art and a mess with the kids in her life, racing her nieces and nephews in a go-kart or even a shopping cart, or generally playing tricks on her family.
Some of her favorite pranks she pulled on Neil especially while he was sleeping. Her favorites were painting his fingernails and toenails in the night before a business trip, or sneaking curlers in his hair when he was on call as an EMT and slipping articles in his luggage for business trips, items like a skillet or electric can opener, just to give a few examples.
Bonnie would be described as creative by those who knew her. She filled her life with creative endeavors from painting and fantastically crafted collages, to late nights assembling puzzles (just one more piece!) and designing the most colorful pollinator gardens. In her latest quest she became set on getting a hummingbird to land on her finger.
Bonnie valued her role in the lives of those she loved. Her jobs as a mother, sister, and grandmother were taken very seriously – or rather, very silly.
Bonnie is preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Jessica Oberlin, and her father, Gordon Robey.
Survived by the love of her life and partner of 46 years, Neil; her children, Nicholas (Julianne) and Breanna (Mark Richards); granddaughters, Astrid and Dagny Oberlin; sister, Tina (Greg Mull) Robey; mother, Frankie (Jermeay) Robey; and numerous nieces and nephews.
As Bonnie would say, “Loving-kindness is my religion”. Please, for Bonnie, be the reason someone else has a good day: plant flowers, make art, lend a hand, and donate to help those in need.
The family is hosting a photo tribute to celebrate Bonnie’s creative, loving life and are inviting family and friends to join in on Sunday November 17 from 1:00 – 5:00 pm at Parlor 1861 (137 South Main Street Bryan, Ohio).
A memorial contribution can be made in Bonnie’s honor to the Ovarian Cancer Connection (https://ovarianconnection.org; Toledo, Ohio) and Breakthrough Type 1 Diabetes (www.breakthrought1d.org).
Arrangements are under the care of Oberlin-Turnbull Funeral Home, 206 North Lynn Street, Bryan, Ohio 43506.
Condolences may be sent to the family, or the online guest book may be signed at www.oberlinturnbull.com.
