Bonnie was born in Hartford Connecticut, the third and youngest child of Daniel and Frances (Howes) Paris. Bonnie grew up in Middletown, CT, where she and her family were active members of First Church, UCC. Bonnie attended Woodrow Wilson High School, where she participated in the Vo-Ag program, working in a veterinary office and raising goats, winning many ribbons at local fairs. She was a proud member of Woodrow Wilson’s last graduating class, 1984.
When her parents retired, Bonnie moved with them up to Maine, where her maternal grandparents had grown up and where the family had spent happy summer weeks at Bonnie’s great-grandfather’s camp on Wyman Lake in Bingham.
Bonnie made her home in Portland. She was a valued employee at Idexx Labs, through Goodwill’s supported employment program, for nearly 25 years. Bonnie loved getting together with family and friends, especially at her family’s camp on Panther Pond in Raymond, where the family hosted so many gatherings. Some of Bonnie’s favorite camp activities were watching the hummingbirds, listening to the loons, participating in the annual cribbage tournament, swimming, and going to the Mosquito for ice cream.
Bonnie loved playing games, and continued to beat her sister at Uno right up until the end. She loved animals of all kinds, especially cats, and she was was grateful to have had the opportunity to volunteer at the HART cat shelter. Bonnie was an avid crafter, creating scrapbooks, greeting cards, hooked rugs, and paintings. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and the family’s annual cookie decorating day was one of her favorite traditions.
Bonnie achieved one of her dearest wishes in 2016, when she was able to travel to Florida and swim with dolphins at Dolphin Cove. She was also very proud to have completed the Maine Veteran’s Home 5k fundraising walk, in honor of her father.
Bonnie is survived by her siblings, Susan Paris and Dan Paris Jr; her sisters-in-law Lisa Munderback and Patti Paris; nephew Robie Newman-Paris; favorite aunt Jill Howes; cousins Charlie and Paul King, Cathy Paris and her husband Dave Barrington, and several second cousins; and her dear friend Andrew Swanson.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, cousins Rachel King, Stephen Paris, and David Paris, and dear friend Kathy Harrison.
A memorial service will be held at Woodfords Congregational Church on May 12, 2026 at 11 am. Interment will be in the Bingham Village Cemetery, Bingham, Maine. Donations in Bonnie’s memory can be made to the HART cat shelter, PO Box 351, Cumberland, ME 04021. A memorial page can be found at www.dignitymemorial.com.
