Mildred Elizabeth Bonca

Mildred Elizabeth Bonca entered into eternal rest on December 9, 2020. She passed away from natural causes at age 99 at her home in Costa Mesa, California. Millie, as she preferred to be called, was born on May 2, 1921, in Mobeetie, Texas. Her parents were Mattie Love Eubanks and John Cleveland Eubanks. Millie was the seventh of eleven Eubanks children. Millie graduated with honors from Mobeetie High School in 1938 and was valedictorian of her class. Shortly after she graduated, she left Texas with her sister and headed to California. Her first job was working for Moreland’s Mortuary in Compton, California. She also attended Compton Community College. She became employed as a cashier for Vons Market in Lynwood, where she met Joseph Shelby Swift, who was a butcher at Vons. They married and had five children together. Unfortunately, Joseph passed away and left Millie a young widow at age 45. However, never letting grass grow under her feet, she met the handsome and debonair Miron Bonca at a dance club. They married in 1972 and had 46 beautiful years together. Miron was raising three young boys, so after raising her five children, she also became a Mother to the Bonca children.

Millie was an incredible woman who could juggle life with ease. When she was only 12-years-old she was hired out as a cook for 20 ranch hands. As an adult, wife, and mother, not only did she work full time, she was a Cub Scout Leader, a PTA leader, and she started the first Credit Union for White Front stores. She was a master seamstress and could whip up designer clothes with ease and speed. She was a champion cook and entertainment hostess and hosted splendid parties up until the last month of her life. She was a master of common sense, had an unbelievable zest for life, was a humanitarian and believed that “the givers of the world are the happiest.” She always made sure that she left out cold drinks for the gardeners, or the mail carrier, and countless visitors were offered generous slices of her famous sour cream cake. She wrote – to everyone, about everything. You may read this and recall a letter that touched you, or made you laugh, or maybe made you say ‘Uh oh!” She sent out birthday cards to hundreds of people every year. She clipped articles and sent them to someone who would appreciate the content. Her ability to repurpose anything was remarkable. Her poise, her grace, her decorum, and her dignity were truly admired by all. Millie had a photographic memory, which made for very long stories. She could recall who her first crush was when she was three years old, and exactly what he was wearing the day she met him. She could recall, in great detail, every element of every aspect of every party she ever hosted, which would be into the thousands. Up until the day she died her recall of events was a marvel. She was also a person of abundant faith and regularly attended Mesa Verde United Methodist Church in Costa Mesa. She also was a member of their book club, and the Woman’s Circle.

She was predeceased by her first husband Joseph Shelby Swift and her second husband Miron Bonca, her first born Patricia Sharon Ewing Swift, and her son David Joseph Swift. She was also predeceased by 9 of her 11 siblings. She is survived by her sister Dotti Edelson, her children Susan Swift, Dennis Swift, Ramona Findley Swift and her husband Patrick Findley, Mitchell Bonca, Cornel Bonca and his wife Angel Bonca, Victor Bonca and his wife Robin Bonca, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her love, devotion and care of all of her surviving family is sorely missed. We all know she is dancing in heaven. In honor of Millie, remember to go out and do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for someone. That is what she would do if she were still here.