Shelley Turner Bonanno

Shelley grew up between Baton Rouge and New York City, embracing adventure from an early age. She showed horses in her younger years and had a lifelong love for animals, especially her beloved Chief. She attended Lausanne School for Girls in Memphis, TN, and the University of Oklahoma, where she majored in foreign languages. She worked for many years at Our Lady of Lake Regional Medical Center in several roles, including the Tau Center, Children’s Miracle Network, and the Blood Bank, but her true gift was teaching swimming lessons. For nearly fifty years, she taught generations of children lifesaving skills, “perfect strokes”, and confidence in the water.

Shelley devoted herself to raising her four daughters and was active in numerous civic and social organizations, including Delta Gamma Sorority, The Junior League of Baton Rouge, La Fiesta Dance Club, and she and Pat’s beloved 50’s group.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Patrick Vincent Bonanno; her parents, Bynum and Jeanne Turner; her brother, Ben Bynum Turner, Jr.; and her grandsons, Taylor Randall Dean and Connor Patrick Dean.

She is survived by her daughters: Leigh Bonanno; Blake Bonanno Black and her husband, Brandon; Brandin Bonanno Brewer and her husband, Kevin; and Bryan Bonanno Provenzano and her husband, Matt. She also leaves behind seven cherished grandchildren: Patrick, Clayton, Kirby, and Stewart Black; Hudson Brewer; and Brennan and McNeil Provenzano; as well as her great-granddaughter, Kaydence Dean. Her brothers- and sisters-in-law, Carmen and Don Scully and Gary and Laura Bonanno, along with many special nieces and nephews, also survive her.

The family will receive relatives and friends at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, March 7th, at 10 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. Honorary pallbearers are Brandon Black, Patrick Black, Stewart Black, Kevin Brewer, Hudson Brewer, Matthew Provenzano, Brennan Provenzano, and Mark Smith. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Fire Fund or Hospice of Baton Rouge.