Dionysia Lucia Bonano

Cia was born on July 6, 1989 in San Bernardino, California to loving parents, the late Michael Bonano and Efthymia “Effie” Bonano. As a young girl, Cia grew up in Santa Cruz, California and later moved back to Southern California where she attended grade school and high school. Cia was an accomplished young woman who was soft spoken, kind and gentle with an enthusiasm for life and love of God. Cia lived with kindness in her heart and a drive for always growing, doing better and being better. Whether it was an act of kindness, a smile, a gentle wave to a stranger, or a kind word to a friend, Cia was always giving to the people around her. Her goal was always to live life’s moments with intent and purpose and to make her family proud. She celebrated life’s moments in every way but also found joy in the simple things in life like spending time with her loving grandmother (her Yiayia) whom she was very close to and loved so very much. She loved music and playing musical instruments including the drums and piano. She also loved sports. As a young girl, Cia played little league baseball and her loving family was always on the sidelines cheering her on. While attending Corona High School, Cia was on the track & field and basketball teams but excelled in the sport of shot put where her coaches often told her that they saw her talent. While attending high school, Cia worked as a receptionist for Farmers Insurance until her graduation in 2007. Shortly after graduating from high school, Cia attended Riverside City College in Riverside, California. While attending college, Cia worked for Ralph’s grocery store in the deli department and found joy in meeting new people and helping customers. Cia earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Information Systems from Riverside City College and later went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from California Baptist University in Riverside, California. She later obtained a position in public service with the State of California where she worked for two different agencies for seven years. In 2017, she opened her own business alongside her loving mother. She named the business John’s Barber Shop in memory of her late loving maternal grandfather (her Papouli) whom she adored. The business meant more than a barber shop to Cia. It was a way for her to honor and live out the legacy of her loving maternal grandparents and mother by continuing their spirit of hard work, as well as the memory of her late father and paternal grandmother who both worked in the field. In 2019, Cia attended Paul Mitchell Academy in Temecula, California and in mid-2020, earned her degree in the field of Barbering. Her goal was to further her dream of growing her small business alongside her mother.

Cia believed in and loved the Lord with all of her heart and found happiness and peace in attending Sunday church services. Cia was baptized when she was an infant at St. Elias Greek Orthodox Church in San Bernardino, California and attended Water of Life Church in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Cia lived with meaning and purpose and never took anything for granted. She was always present and thankful to the Lord for everything and all of the people and family in her life which she spoke of and thought of as her blessings. She never hesitated to let her family know how much she loved them and how thankful she was to have them in her life. Her kindness, generous and thoughtful spirit brought joy and light to her family. Despite life’s challenges and losing her father at a young age, Cia always had gratitude in her heart, lived and loved with intent, and loved with all of her heart each and every precious day that was given to her here on earth. Cia’s gentle smile, comforting and kind ways, enthusiasm for life, and love will be dearly missed each and every day. Her generous love and memory will live eternally in our hearts. Cia is survived by her husband, mother, grandmother, brother, aunt, uncle, and numerous friends and family. +