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Bonnie Lou Stender, 79 of Midland and formerly of Bay City, died Thursday morning, December 27, 2018 at Bickford of Midland. She was born December 20, 1939 in Kawkawlin, daughter of Beeching Henry and Genevieve (Cummings) Henry. Bonnie attended school in Bay City graduating from St. Mary’s Catholic School in 1957. After graduation, she continued her education to become a Licensed Practical Nurse, and later in life completed all the course work to become a Registered Nurse. She was a great nurse and especially loved her work in Labor and Delivery at Mercy Hospital. She also worked for various doctors through the years before retiring and turning her care back to the infants and children she loved so much. Bonnie married Ronald D. Kochanny, at St. Anne’s Church in Linwood and together they had 5 children.


As a young girl, she was active in 4-H, where she learned and excelled in knitting, sewing and crochet work. Bonnie became a quilter and created and gifted all of her children and grandchildren with homemade quilts. Her talents extended to the kitchen and she was well known as a wonderful cook and baker. Bonnie loved dancing and stayed active in the senior group at the Midland Community Center, where she met a number of new friends after moving to Midland. On June 8, 2002, Bonnie married William Stender at St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Bay City. Together they enjoyed travel to Alaska, the Southern States and also the Caribbean. Bonnie and Bill loved their Schnauzers, Ruby and Maggie, but most of all they loved being with family and cherished every moment they could spend with them.


Bonnie is survived by her husband, William Stender, children Tim (Karen) Kochanny, Terri (Rick) Stevenson, Paul (Tracie) Kochanny, Pat (Jana) Kochanny; step-children William Stender III, Charles (Cathy) Stender, Pam (Ken) Monville; 12 grandchildren: Michael, Ryan, Matthew, Kyle, Drew, Genevieve, Laura, Alex, Alec, Katie, Jacob and Brooke; nine great grandchildren with one on the way; and 6 step grandchildren, Jamie, Eric, Will, Rachel, Charlie, Taya. She is also survived by her sisters Skip Vogel and Billie (Dave) Buda; and good friends Sue and Fran Goulette. In addition to her parents, Bonnie was preceded in death by her daughter Angela Kochanny.


The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, January 4, 2019 from Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 3109 Swede Avenue, with Father Kevin Maksym and Father Jack Johnson Concelebrating the Funeral Liturgy. Bonnie’s family will receive friends at the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 West Wheeler Street, on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. and at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of the Liturgy. A vigil for the deceased will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider MidMichigan Home Care or the Bay County 4-H Club. The family would like to thank the staff at Bickford of Midland as well as Carol Boulander and Dr. Taylor Wofford of MidMichigan Home Care for the kindness and care they gave Bonnie.

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