Ethel Bonura

Ethel was born in Port Arthur, Texas on November 12, 1919 to Gaston and Camille Judice. After being widowed with two young sons, she married Cleo Joseph (CJ) Bonura. Together they had 3 children, and became a family of 10, in a “yours, mine, and ours” family. She was widowed for the 2nd time in 1986 at the age of 67.

In 1989, she moved from her hometown of Port Arthur to Spring, Texas to be near most of her children and grandchildren. She immediately joined a seniors bowling league and bowled for 24 years, developing some very dear friendships. At the age of 72, Ethel applied for a part-time job at Kroger, and Paulette Patterson, the Deli Manager hired her. Ethel applied for this job for “something to do.” After all, she was only bowling 4 days a week. She worked at Kroger for 17 years (until she reached the age of 89). There, she also developed some very dear friendships. Paulette Patterson became and remained her best friend. A favorite pastime for Ethel was gambling, and she would travel to Louisiana at any opportunity to “donate” to the casinos.

Being blessed with a blended family of 10 children doesn’t come without its crosses. Ethel was preceded in death by 5 of the children, Benton W. Broussard, Jr., Donnie L. Broussard, Sr., Timothy Bonura, Philip Bonura, and Michael Bonura, and 3 of her 20 grandchildren, Darla Magee, Misty Donovan, and Steven Melching. Thankfully, she was blessed with the strength to carry on as the matriarch of the family sharing her joys, wit, and love. She is survived by her daughter, Margaret (Mike) Erpenbeck, stepdaughter Janis Melching, stepson, Gary Bonura, grandchildren Jerry (Stephanie) Broussard, Kim Northfield, Lori Dwyer, Jeff (Patrice) Melching, Donnie Broussard, Donovan Broussard, Shawn (James) Benny, Melissa Quinn, Kevin (Andrea) Bonura, Daniel (Blanca) Bonura, Joe Bonura, Tim Bonura, Annie Bonura, Marcia (James) LeBert, David (Melanie) Erpenbeck, John Erpenbeck, Bailey Bonura; and many great and great-great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 9th at 9:00am at Sts. Simon & Jude Catholic Church, 26777 Glen Loch Dr., Spring, TX 77385, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00am, then a burial at 2:00pm at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Port Arthur, TX.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestparkthewoodlands.com for the Bonura family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ethel’s name to a charity of your choice.