Sylvia S. Bonnell

Sylvia Swensen Bonnell died peacefully on April 29, 2012 surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of Richard L. Bonnell, and mother of three daughters, Stephanie, Sheila and Martha. As a long time resident of Orleans she was a beloved fixture at the Orleans library and the beach at Rock Harbor where she could be found on any given summer day along with a book, and possibly children, grandchildren and/or a dog. In later years she sat in a row of ladies reading in the sun with an occasional cooling dip.

Sylvia was born in Quincy, MA. on April 20, 1916 to Alf Swensen, who came to the United States from Oslo in 1910, and Mabel Anderson Swenson of Wollaston, MA. She grew up in Wollaston and from a very early age was a passionate dog lover. Following high school in Quincy, she earned a diploma from Fanny Farmer’s Boston School of Everyday Cookery. Cooking was to become a life-long venue for self-expression among family and friends in the form of dinners, both planned and impromptu, and an inexhaustible supply of homemade cookies that was always available for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Sylvia and Dick Bonnell were married in Wollaston on June 12, 1937. Their 75th wedding anniversary would have been June 12, 2012. They began married life in Barnstable and following the war, finally settled with their three children at 111 Rock Harbor Road in Orleans in what had been the Bonnell family summer home. She loved her house by the Bay and with a keen aesthetic eye, created a charming and beautiful home. She loved the Cape from the beaches to the woods where she could be found, accompanied by children and dogs, in search of mayflowers each spring. These walks engendered that same love of the Cape in her children.

Sylvia was the owner of Canorwoll Kennels where she bred and raised purebred dogs over the years, many of whom became champion show dogs. She was extremely knowledgeable about many breeds and was a lifetime member and past president of the Ladies Dog Club on the Cape. Over the years she mentored other younger people with interest in raising dogs. She was also a distinguished and highly respected American Kennel Club judge. A fifty-year career led her to judging venues from Brazil to California.

Sylvia is survived by her husband, Richard L. Bonnell; her sister, Dorothy Riley of Weymouth, MA; her daughters Martha Sheldon and husband Brian Harrington; Sheila Bonnell and husband Mon Cochran; and Stephanie Perrin and partner Jessie Shefrin. She is survived by her beloved grandchildren, Jonathan Blake of Sandwich, his wife Felecia and their children, Christopher, Ryan and Taylor; Jesse Perrin of Boston; Jack and Oskar Sheldon of Seattle; and Justine Hand, her husband Chad Updyke and their children Oliver and Solvi, of Newton.

Burial will be private, There will be a memorial service for Sylvia at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Orleans at 11 A.M. on Saturday May 26th. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Eastham or Orleans public libraries. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com