Bonnie Jean Viviano

Bonnie Viviano was born January 30, 1928 to Ezra and Alice Wall in Gresham, the youngest of six children. She was raised in a one room shanty house during the depression with a milk cow in the backyard. She attended Gresham Elementary (now known as West Gresham Elementary) and Gresham High School.

Her parents went dancing Saturday nights at the Masonic Temple ballroom on 64th & Foster. That is where Bonnie first saw Pete. Little did she know he had come to dance that night because his friends told him about her family with good looking girls. Bonnie was 14 years old at the time but said to herself after their first dance together, “he may not know it, but he is mine”! They started dating when she was sixteen. She took a job as a “Soda jerk” at Rexall Drugs store at the corner of Powell and Main Street. Unfortunately one day she was hit by a car when she was crossing the street in front of the school. She was in a coma for 12 days and they didn’t know if she would live. In spite of losing a few front teeth she recovered and managed to graduate from school with her class. They continued to date when Pete went off to serve in WW2. They were engaged but he said he would not marry her until after he came back as he was afraid of leaving her a widow. They were married June 15, 1947 after his safe return.

They built a garage to live in on the property next to his mother while Pete built their house. Five years later the house was finally completed. She endured two surgeries and a miscarriage before her first child Paula (Breihof) was born. Twenty-two months later, after they moved in, their second child Timothy was born. Their third child Suzanne was born 4 years later. They owned Southeast Refuse Service, dropbox and recycling company. After his mother passed away in 1960, Bonnie worked from the home office and Pete continued working on the truck.

They both enjoyed taking trips to the beach every weekend possible. We all have fond memories of the time we spent there. She is remembered lovingly for her spotless house, Classy style, Saturday night dancing, Sunday church, the smell of sun dried sheets, home cooked meals, cookies, cakes, pies and warm hugs.

She was very proud to have Nine Grandchildren and 22 Great Grandchildren. She became known as the “cookie Grandma” as she always brought homemade cookies to their sports games and fiercely cheered them on. They took their last dance steps together on their 68th wedding anniversary in 2015. Their favorite song was “Can I have this dance for the rest of my life” but a close second was “It had to be you!”.

The Wall women come from sturdy stock, they are tough as nails, and always step up to any challence life puts in front of them.

She leaves behind her only suriving sibling, her beloved sister Louise Dix. She loving bids farewell to her friends and all staff members at Avamere Sandy Assisted living community that helped to numb the pain, loneliness and loss of her husband of 68 years. She was a wonderful wife, great Mother and Grandmother. We all love you, Grandma.

Funeral Mass will be on Friday, March 20th at 11 am at St. Michaels Catholic Church, 18090 SE Langensand Rd. in Sandy. Visitation will be on Thursday, March 19th from 10 am-5 pm at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home in Gresham. Cemetery service will be on Saturday, March 21st at 11 am at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Gresham.