Lifetime Grays Harbor resident Bonnie Jean Gilovich passed away peacefully on February 26, 2024, at Pacific Care and Rehabilitation in Hoquiam, Washington. She was 83 years old.
Bonnie was born to Helen Corum Brant and Lawrence Brant on December 3rd, 1940, in Aberdeen, Washington. She was raised in Aberdeen and graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1959. Continuing her education, Bonnie graduated from Grays Harbor Community College and Western Washington University, receiving a degree in education.
On June 8th, 1968, she married the love of her life, Tony Gilovich at St.’s Peter & Paul Catholic church in Aberdeen. The couple enjoyed clam digging, trips to Seaside Oregon, and spending time with family and friends.
For the next 35 years, Bonnie taught in Aberdeen, most of that time as a 4th grade teacher at Alexander Young Elementary. Bonnie was dedicated to her students and provided them with creative opportunities to learn and explore. Her favorite teaching stories involved classroom pets that got away, whale watching field trips at Westport, and a 4th grade cookie making business that became a yearly tradition.
A devout Catholic, Bonnie attended St. Mary’s church in Aberdeen. She was an active member of the parish and St. Teresa’s guild. Bonnie drew upon her gift of teaching to become a steward for RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation). In this role she guided and instructed those who wished to become Catholic. Bonnie touched many lives during this process. She was a wonderful mentor and Godmother to several of her students. In 1991 she felt the call to deepen her faith and became a secular Franciscan, eventually joining the 3rd order of the Immaculate Conception Franciscans.
Bonnie’s service to her church and community continued during her retirement years. She volunteered as a religious education teacher, served as a team member for the Feed the Hungry program, was a lector, and participated on the Tribunal council.
She worked diligently with the NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor County serving as a resident Director. An active member of the Delta Kappa Gamma sorority, she enjoyed time spent with her sorority sisters.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband Tony Gilovich. She is survived by her brother Larry and wife Sandi Brant of Blaine, Washington; her nephew Jeff Brant of Tri Cities; her sister-in-law Valerie Gilovich of Cosmopolis; her niece Diane and husband Dylan Trivison of Olympia; and great-nieces Lauren and Emily Trivison of Spokane, Washington.
A mass of Christian burial will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic church in Aberdeen, Washington on March 5th, 2024, at 11 a.m. preceded by Rosary at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Feed the Hungry program at 306 E 3rd St, Aberdeen, WA 98520.