Bonnie R. Sajbel

Bonnie was born on July 10, 1931, to Edward Dewey Riordan and Ruth Alvira Fredinburg in Sterling Colorado. Ruth died when Bonnie was 5. Edward remarried Mildred Baskett when Bonnie was15 years old.

Bonnie graduated from Sterling High School in 1949 and then attended Cottey College for one year on a scholarship. She then spent 2 years at Colorado State College of Education (now the University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley, majoring in physical education. She was a cheerleader and a member of Delta Sigma Epsilon sorority, Pi Lambda Theta, and Orchesis. Bonnie completed her undergraduate degree in physical education at CSU – Pueblo in 1970. She worked at various elementary schools over the years and helped prepare taxes for most people in Pueblo at H&R Block.

During college in Greeley, Bonnie had the good fortune of going with a friend to see the spot where a fraternity dance was going to be held that evening. A handsome young artist was there painting a mural for the dance. She thought he was cute and he thought she was cuter. They soon began dating and the rest is history. Edward Richard Sajbel and Bonnie were married on June 12, 1952, in Sterling, Colorado. Their reception was held at the Sterling Country Club. News of their wedding made the society pages in Sterling. Ed then finished his MFA degree and took Bonnie to live in Pueblo where she met the entire Slovak Sajbel family and learned to make potica with the aunts.

Being raised by a single father, Bonnie developed a keen understanding of the nuances of the great American pastime – baseball. Bonnie attended many baseball games with her father in St. Louis. Her dad probably didn’t know what else to do with this precocious, inquisitive child. She then became adept at scorekeeping on a scorecard, knew every position number, and how to score a walk, an out, or a strikeout. For some odd reason, her favorite team was always the Yankees. On her 70th birthday, her daughters took her to a Yankees game where Roger Clements pitched, and Mariano Rivera was the closer. For her 80th birthday, Bonnie and Ed took a bus tour throughout the Midwest and Eastern United States, visiting as many ballparks and seeing as many major league games as they could. For her 90th birthday, Bonnie’s children rented a suite for her at Coors Field where they all watched the Rockies prevail in the 9th inning.

Bonnie’s older sister Betty said that Bonnie “got all the curls and all the smarts in the family.” Bonnie could always be found folding the newspaper in half to complete the daily crossword puzzle (in pen!). She was an avid reader. She loved good music, especially Barbra Streisand, Sarah Vaughn, and Ella Fitzgerald. Later in life she noted that she was taken by the music of Amy Winehouse. She maintained her garden yearly, weeding until her timer told her she needed to go inside. She always hung her clothes on the clothesline outside to dry unless it was too cold to do so. She loved her Dewars and soda at 5:00 PM every day.

Bonnie converted to the Catholic faith at the age of 17. She and Ed lived that faith throughout their 74 year marriage. Early on, they were members of Christian Family Movement, an organization that promotes strong, faith-filled marriages and healthy family dynamics. They were guest speakers at retreats for young adults to discuss what it meant to be a married Catholic couple. They attended Call to Action, a Catholic U.S. reform organization. They befriended several priests and nuns in Pueblo who were leaving the priesthood and religious orders. They were progressive in their faith, helping start their own Catholic community, which is now known as the St. Charles Community. Bonnie always made sure to include the traveler’s prayer for safe travels during every Mass she attended. She donated to more causes than necessary. She will be receiving calendars, address stickers, and notepads from Doctors Without Borders, the NAACP, Wildlife federations, Greenpeace, the SPCA, and many other charities for years to come to thank her for her generosity.

The word “planner” doesn’t begin to describe Bonnie. She put things in order, had a place for everything, and got it all ready ahead of time. She will be remembered for her kindness and inclusiveness, her generosity and support, her sense of fairness and justice, her travels, and her love of family and friends.

Bonnie’s parents, sister Betty Irby, and son Mark preceded her in death. Bonnie is survived by her husband Ed, her children Deborah Coldwell (Scott), Nancy Carter (Wayne), Rhonda Valdez (Michael), Gregory Sajbel (Laura), and daughter in law Gladys Robles Sajbel (Mark dec.); her grandchildren Bonnie Cote (Dana), Jessica Gore (Mitchell), Matt Carter, Paul Carter (Heidi Egley), Trent Coldwell, Andrea Sperin (Taylor), Dylan Sajbel (Jessica Madison), Alison Valdez, and Maisie (Pierce), Ginger (Pedro), and Kenny Sajbel; and several great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Life will be held this Fall. Arrangements are pending.