and Ray Williams. She lived her childhood in nearby Rocky River, and was the middle child of three.
The first died in the flu epidemic of 1917. A brother, Roger, was born in 1923. Her father passed away
at the age of 42, when Meribell was only 12 years old. Her childhood was happy and good for the most
part, but the family moved a lot after her father died. These were the depression years, so her mother
found difficulty supporting the family.
Meribell graduated from Rocky River High, then entered the nursing program at Fairview Park
Hospital, graduating with an RN nursing degree in 1942. Her nursing career included work as
maternity supervisor, and assistant in a surgeon’s practice.
Love for art, and a natural talent for it never left her, so she went to work in the studio of American
Greetings, painting and designing greeting cards. Her three years there were some of the most
delightful of her lifetime. Through one of the artists at the studio, she met her future husband, Harry
Boniece of Lansing, Michigan, who was a cartographer (maker of maps). They were married in 1949,
and set up housekeeping in Detroit, Michigan.
Later, Meribell joined the practice of an Ophthalmologist to help with the purchase of a new home.
1959 saw the birth of a son, Mark. He had a lot of health problems as a child, which eventually led, in
1970, to a relocation to the fair skies of Arizona on the advice of doctors. Her husband’s U.S.
Geological Survey office had been closed, forcing him to retire early. The move was a good choice in
that both Meribell and Harry loved the nice weather, and it solved Mark’s health problems.
In 1975, husband Harry died from a stroke, and Meribell was required to manage the household
without him. After son Mark moved out, she decided she wanted to transition into a smaller home that
was easier to take care of. In 1992 she moved into the Camino Del Rey Adult Community where she
found great pleasure and new friends. Meribell worked at the Creighton United Methodist church for
seven years, ending in 1996, as the church secretary, where she produced and illustrated their
newsletter, among her other numerous responsibilities. She was active in the congregation as well.
After moving to the Phoenix area, she used her china painting skills to create many pieces that were
sold at shows and a gift shop in Scottsdale. China painting was her favorite art medium, and she didn’t
give it up until rheumatoid arthritis in her hands forced her to. At Camino Del Rey, she often went to
the clubhouse and played the organ. She also had an organ in her home that was one of her most
favorite possessions. Again, she had to give up making music because of her arthritis.
The breakfast room in her home had become her art studio where she concentrated all of her years of
collecting elements for the various mediums she worked in, such as watercolor, pastels, ink drawing,
and oil painting. She produced many acrylic paintings, some of which appeared on display in her home.
She had a large collection of angels and other figurines. She contributed artwork to the community
bulletin board.
A joyful experience came to her in 1991 when her granddaughter Danielle was born. She treasured
being called “gramma”, and spent many happy hours being one.
In 2001, Meribell’s beloved brother Roger died, and this left a great void in her life.
Meribell passed away on February 1st of 2019 from congestive heat failure, in her home, with her son
and nurse attending her.
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