Bonnie E. (Stake) Gibbs

SHREWSBURY - Bonnie Gibbs will always be remembered as a caring mother, daughter, wife, friend, and employee. She filled many different roles personally and professionally throughout her life, and was thankful to be cared for by her family, especially her devoted sister, and friends during her last few years of life. Bonnie died at home on Friday, December 8, 2023 with her sister and her hospice nurse by her side. She was 64.

Bonnie Ellen (Stake) Gibbs was born January 2, 1959 in Worcester a daughter of Richard and Marjorie (Briggs) Stake. She graduated from Shrewsbury High School with the class of 1976 and earned her Bachelor’s degree from Worcester State University in 1986.  She completed her nursing degree from Quinsigamond Community College in 1997.

She married William F. Gibbs II on September 5, 1981. They lived in Worcester and Shrewsbury before relocating to various Coast Guard assignments that Bill held including Silver Spring, Maryland; Astoria, Oregon; and Governors Island, NYC settling back in Shrewsbury in 1993. Bill died February 2, 2022.

Bonnie worked at Norton Company while completing her Bachelor’s degree. Following completion of nursing school, she worked at Holy Trinity Nursing Home and the Elder Services of Worcester. She left her nursing career to become the Director of Resident Services for Autumn Woods Apartment Community; her work colleagues were her dear friends, and she remained a dedicated employee until the pandemic and her illness forced her to remain at home. She formally retired from Autumn Woods in August of 2022.

Bonnie played an instrumental role in forming the Massachusetts Association of Resident Service Coordinators in Housing (MARSCH) in 1998. She held many offices within MARSCH, bettering the skills and information available to fellow Resident Service Coordinators. She served as co-chair of the New England Resident Service Coordinators annual conference when it was held in Massachusetts.

Bonnie served as a Town Meeting Member for the town of Shrewsbury from 2000 until 2020.  She was also a longtime member of NORDIC Lodge #611, VASA order of America. She was a dedicated member of the First Congregational Church where she served as a Deacon and was an active volunteer in the Interfaith Hospitality Network.

Bonnie loved gardening, hiking, skiing, and kayaking. She treasured time and made countless memories at her family’s camp in Vienna, Maine. Bonnie was a talented furniture refinisher, woodworker, and sign carver. She carved numerous beautiful signs and decorations for herself and others as gifts. She loved birds and enjoyed watching them at her many backyard feeders. She loved creating macramé planters and was equally passionate and dedicated to the many plants throughout her home.

Bonnie began experiencing symptoms of her illness in 2017. Chasing a diagnosis led her to the team of specialists at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she was formally diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy in 2019. Her MGH doctors provided expert care and coordinated with her local team at UMASS. MGH has earned status as a Center of Excellence from the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition, recognizing their expertise in working with this rare disease. Bonnie is contributing to their MSA research through brain donation.

She leaves her daughter, Kelsey Gibbs and son-in-law, Matthew Silverman of Nobleboro, Maine; her parents, Richard and Marjorie (Briggs) Stake of Shrewsbury, Florida, and Maine; her sister, Susan (Stake) Weeks and her husband, David of Bellbrook, Ohio. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and dear friends who were like family.

Family and friends will honor and remember Bonnie by gathering for her Celebration of Life service at The First Congregational Church, 19 Church Road, Shrewsbury, on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. The Reverend Cynthia Maybeck will officiate. A collation will follow in Gifford Hall. There are no calling hours. Bonnie's ashes will be spread in her favorite places over the months to come.

Livestream link to Bonnie's service:  https://www.fccsm.org/copy-of-what-to-expect

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Bonnie Gibbs to MSA Research at The Schmahmann Lab at Mass General and mailed to the Massachusetts General Hospital Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114, Attention: Kylie Baruffi. Donations can also be made online at https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate please be sure to indicate that the gift is a tribute gift in memory of Bonnie Gibbs or City to Saddle, P.O. Box 512, Rutland, MA 01543 or https://www.citytosaddle.org or The First Congregational Church, 19 Church Road, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 or www.fccsm.org.

Arrangements by James + John Heald of The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, Waltham.