Obituary of Bonnie J. Ruso

RAVENA - Bonnie Jean (Kirby) Ruso left this world on Monday, August 15, 2016, peacefully in her sleep after days of being surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was born February 9, 1937, the daughter of Bernard and Olive Kirby. She grew up in the Ravena/Coeymans area and went to St. Patrick's Parochial School and later Ravena High School. She worked as waitress at the original Ravena Diner, at Whitney's Department Store, Albany, Off Track Betting, Ravena, and then for NYS DMV, retiring as supervisor there in 1996. Bonnie was known as a prankster, loving to play a trick or joke, many remember her numerous Halloween costumes, each more outrageous than the next. She enjoyed life in a community where people cared for and were there for one another and shared fun times. She was Founding member of the Bonnie Blue Bells which was the Tricentennial 300th (1973) anniversary of the Town of Coeymans and the Bicentennial of the Nation's 200th Birthday (1976.) Throughout her life, Bonnie enjoyed history, loved spending time working on projects at the Village of Ravena Historical Society, her involvement in the Red Hat Society, Coeymans Fire Department, the Ravena Women's Group, the Grange, local parades as Santa Claus, camping, snow mobiling, Easter and other family/friend celebrations, and traveling. Her humor will be missed. Bonnie leaves behind her beloved son, James Ruso, his wife, Susan, and her beloved granddaughter, Lidia Marie Ruso; her sisters, Olive Frese and Alice Kniffen; her sisters and brother in law, nieces and nephews; her lifelong friend, Ann Wilsey. She is pre-deceased by her loving husband, Floyd Abram Ruso, who she married August 26, 1956, her parents, and her sister, Nellie Butler. Her wake will be on Thursday, August 18, from 4-7 PM at A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home, 9 Main Street, Ravena. Bonnie's service, in celebration of her life, will be at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 21 Main Street, Ravena, on Friday, August 19, at 11 AM, followed by an Irish Celebration at the Coeymans Fire Department immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners, the local food pantry or to Wounded Warriors.