Juanita "Bunny" Borngen

Juanita “Bunny” Borngen (Jeffries), 94, passed away peacefully on November 11, 2022 at Pleasant Bay Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Brewster, MA following a brief illness. Born on April 9, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio the daughter of the late George Leonard Jeffries and Helen Marguerita Jeffries (Fraser); Bunny was preceded in death by her former husband, Reverend Richard Edward Borngen, her sisters Patricia Ann Blake (Jeffries) and Geraldine Lou Tonsing (Jeffries), and her daughter, Janet Lee (Brand) Sylvester (Borngen).

When she was born, the nurses gave her the nickname of “Bunny” since Easter was just the day before. From early on, Bunny was a passionate, determined, and adventurous soul. She enjoyed horseback riding, participating in numerous roles at her church, Christ United Methodist, in Cleveland, Ohio, and was involved in local USO events to support our troops and veterans. Bunny graduated in 1946 from the esteemed John Marshall Hight School in Cleveland and remained a very active alumna throughout her life. After getting married, she took her role as the wife of a soon-to-be United Church of Christ (UCC) pastor seriously as she excelled in various preparation courses for the wives at Eaton Theological Seminary in Missouri. She loved to travel and as her dear cousin, Jane Morahan, of Wellington, Ohio was recently recounting; Bunny organized a multi-week road trip across the country with Jane and other family members when Bunny was just 23 years old.

As Bunny went on to serve as a Pastor’s wife extraordinaire, she earned her Veterans of the Cross membership from putting others before her needs at the various churches in Ohio, Kentucky, and Massachusetts where they served, such as the Mohicanville Community Church and Bethel UCC in Ohio and Chapel Hill UCC in Kentucky. She was a wonderful wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, cousin and friend to all. This included many who might not be technically related to her but became part of her circle through her various community groups and vocations. Speaking of vocations, Bunny’s list of jobs is too long to mention in its entirety – but just a few will give you another glimpse of her adventurousness and caring spirit. Working at various retail jobs while in high school at the Cleveland Terminal Tower, working at an Ammunitions Plant in Kentucky, serving as an Elementary School Teacher Aid in Chelmsford, MA, and with the Wang Laboratories/Reception in Lowell, MA where she supported various staff with a smile, energy and enthusiasm. Whether it was at Church, at an USO event, out with friends, or at the Holliston Senior Center each Friday – music and dance were a constant focus in her life. Depending on the setting, her favorites were either polkas or old-time gospel music. I suppose we can’t leave out another constant in her life which was her weekly, never to be missed, trip to the beauty shop. Bunny was rich with love, family, friends and passions for adventure and helping people along the way through life. There was never a pile of somebody’s laundry that she didn’t want to tackle, never too little time to read a book to a child, and never a day that wasn’t enjoyed with a friend and a cup of tea!

Bunny is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Lynn Mansfield (Borngen) and her husband Peter Mansfield of Dennis, MA, and Pamela Sue Bonfiglioli (Borngen) and her husband Jack Bonfiglioli of Quincy, MA. Grandchildren are Renee Brand and her partner, Michele Edmunds of Englewood, CO, Edward Brand and his wife Amanda Brand of Manchester, NH, Jarrod Brand and his wife Shane Brand of Dennis, MA, Jefferson Mansfield and his wife Cheryl Mansfield of South Natick, MA, Scott Mansfield and his wife Poly Mansfield of Marlborough, CT, Emily Mansfield, of Whitsett, NC, Ciana Bonfiglioli of Cambridge, MA and John Bonfiglioli and his wife Kennie Rebecca Bonfiglioli of Brockton, MA. Great Grandchildren are Marq, Abbie, Avery and Archer Brand, Noah Mansfield, Jefferson (JJ) and Ellie Mansfield, Tess and Beckett Brand. Bunny is also survived by several dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and all those that provided loving companionship and care including Cindy Griffin of Holliston, MA.

In accordance with Juanita’s wishes, a Celebration of her Life, will be held on Sunday, December 4th, 2022 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm at The Dennis Highlands Golf Club House, 825 Old Bass River Road, Dennis, MA 02638. In lieu of flowers, Bunny would like to invite people to contribute to the United Church of Christ’s Veterans of the Cross/Board of Ministerial Aid Fund at The Southern New England UCC Conference Framingham Office, 1 Badger Road, Framingham, MA 01702. Her daughters will also be working with Pleasant Bay at Brewster to enhance an outdoor spot where Bunny enjoyed sitting with nature. There will be more information available for this project at the Celebration of Life.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you, be gracious unto you and give you real peace.