Obituary of Patra Elizabeth Bonnette

Patra Elizabeth Bonnette ~ September 24, 1962 – January 20, 2020 ~

Patra Elizabeth Bonnette was born on September 24, 1962 in Hermiston, Oregon.

Patra had a lifelong love for food and serving her community. It’s no surprise that she was in the food service industry since she was 9 years old, working with her brother, Dennis at their parent’s restaurant, “Der Tisch”. Patra stayed in the food and beverage industry for 48 years, until she just could not work any longer. It broke her heart when she had to stop doing the job that she loved so dearly.

Patra was the bravest, strongest, most determined, loving, giving, “flower adult” many will ever meet. She loved the outdoors, earth and the universe as a whole. She loved people and the way she brought joy to the lives of everyone she touched was a special gift of hers.

Patra was a young mother when she had her first daughter, Tara, so when she found herself pregnant with her second child, she made a very brave and selfless decision to put her second daughter, Erin up for adoption. Patra made sure that her baby was adopted by not only good people, but by her own family that would take good care of her baby. A couple years later, Patra became pregnant again - this time with a son, whom she named Michael. As the children grew up, Patra stayed in contact with Erin’s adopted parents and eventually Patra and all of her children were reunited.

Patra raised two kids on her own and even fought breast cancer as a single mother. She was first diagnosed in 1993/94, and was given a very short time to live. Patra was too stubborn for that and decided that she was NOT going to die with two kids to raise!

Patra fought cancer for 27 years. She received diagnosis after diagnosis and expiration date after expiration date and she beat every one of them. Patra was told she would die at the age of 31, prior to raising her children or ever meeting any grandchildren. This is NOT something that Patra was willing to accept. Her fight continued and Patra was blessed with many more years. She watched her two children grow, and was reunited with the third. She was even blessed enough to be able to meet grandchildren and watch them grow. When Patra passed, her youngest two grandchildren were 15 years old.

On December 26, 2019 Patra learned that after 27 years of fighting, she was nearing the end. Her cancer had traveled to her brain and her liver was beyond repair. The doctor couldn’t say how long she had, but he indicated that it would be a matter of months. Patra discontinued all medical treatments and went on hospice, planning to continue her natural remedies.

Patra and her family accepted the fact that she was going to die in 2020 and her family left for a weekend away on January 3. During that trip and shortly after, Patra’s family started to notice signs that she was declining, but they had no idea how quickly things would start moving.

Patra’s Sister, Nicole flew out and got to Tacoma on Friday, January 17, just in time to be able to communicate with Patra a little before she almost completely lost her ability to communicate. Nicole, along with Patra’s daughter Tara were by her side, taking care of her until the end. On January 20, 2020 at 2:52pm Patra passed peacefully in her own home, while looking out a big picture window, next to a wood-burning fireplace. She was surrounded by many loved ones for days leading up to her passing, and was surrounded by two of her children, her sister, her son-in-law and three of her grandchildren when she passed at home, just 3 weeks (not months) after her last doctor’s appointment.

Patra was preceded in death by her parents Jack & Carol Cook, her biological father, Dennis Caron, and her uncle David Bonnette

Patra is survived by her Sisters, Nicole & Dawn; Brother, Dennis; her three children Tara, Michael & Erin; and six grandchildren Kayla, Cecilia, Hannah, Olivia, Cody & Mackenzie; nephews, Jeremiah and Cameron, along with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Patra was an amazing mother, grandmother, daughter, niece, sister and friend and she will be so missed by so many. BUT, Patra does not want us to be sad! She wants us to be happy and focus on the positive things in our

lives and in hers. She got MANY more years than she expected to get, which gave her many opportunities to make memories with her children and even the grandchildren that she never thought she would meet. Patra was a very spiritual woman and After 27 years, she is no longer in pain. She is looking down and smiling from above, with her Mommy and Daddy, who she missed so much!

We will be holding a Celebration of Life for Patra on Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 3:00pm at the Glen Acres Social Hall, 11401 10th Ave S, Seattle, WA  98168.

A poem from us to her:

God Saw You Getting Tired

God saw you getting tired

And a cure was not to be

So he put his arms around you

And whispered, “Come to Me”

With tearful eyes we watched you

And saw you pass away

And although we love you dearly

We could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating

Hard working hands at rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best!

 

A poem from her to us:

Celebrate My Life

Remember me with love and joy,

Let gratitude fill your heart.

Thankful for the time we had,

Gone… yet not apart.

If we measured life in moments,

Not in months or years,

I lived a hundred lifetimes,

Loved by all who hold me dear.

I hope you’ll find your smile,

And generously speak my name.

Share stories and my heart,

Your love for life unchanged.

Celebrate the life I lived,

I will be watching from above.

I am always with you,

Sending you my light and love.

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