Bonnie Marie Bonanno East

Bonnie Marie Bonanno East passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family in Sugar Land, Texas on April 28, 2023.  She was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on March 3, 1932. She was 91 years old.  Bonnie graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge in 1950.

.She is preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Douglas A. East; infant son, Andrew; parents, Vincent and Tina Maranto Bonanno; and brother, Patrick Bonanno, a former Baton Rouge Chief of Police.  Bonnie is survived by her daughter, Suzette East Novosad and husband Dr. Byron Novosad of Sugar Land, Texas; her sons, Clark East and wife Giesla of Sugar Land, Texas; Blaine East; David East and wife Cheryl of Port St. Lucie, Florida; her sister, Carmen Bonanno Scully and husband Donald, Sr. of Baton Rouge, Louisiana;  her brother, Gary Bonanno and wife Laura of Mandeville, Louisiana; her sisters-in-law, Shelly Bonanno of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Judi East of Houston, Texas; She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Jamie East Billig and husband James, Tiffany Greenwood and husband Matt, Norman Ley, Jason East and wife Wendy, Matthew East, Jonathan East, Brendan East and Patrick McCasky,  Jacilyn East Mikels and husband Daniel,  Ashley East, and Blair East;  eight great-grandchildren: Georgia Greenwood, Jack, Taylor, Aiden and Emily Billig, Taylor and Tory Mikels and Vinny East. She had a very special place in her heart for her nieces and nephews: Christopher, Yvette, Chad, Cherie, Kirk, Kraig, Blake, Brandin, Bryan and Leigh; and her great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and close friends. Everyone that knew her loved her!

Bonnie has had a very long and successful career. Along with her husband, she owned and operated Bonnie East Century 21 Real Estate Company (the largest agency along the Treasure Coast, with offices in Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach and Ft. Pierce, Florida) employing over 45 real estate agents. As a Houston realtor, Bonnie and her daughter Sue, worked alongside each other as agents for eight years at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Premier Properties.  She was also a member of HAR. A licensed realtor in three states - Florida, Texas and Louisiana, as an active broker until the day of her passing. She was also a member of the GBRAR.

Bonnie’s greatest passion was her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, always family first!  She loved cooking. At age 89, she wrote a Legacy Cookbook by Bonnie Bonanno East that is still sold today on Amazon. At age 91, she loved painting and reading, and still had a passion for reading contracts and giving advice on real estate law.

Bonnie loved giving! She was always positive no matter the challenge and often said “love will always win out over adversity and family is everything”. She constantly said, “God knows better than we do”. She was a devout Catholic and loved praying with the strongest faith and conviction in God.  If you believe there are angels on earth, Bonnie was the matriarch. She was truly the matriarch of her family too. 

Pallbearers are Norman Ley, Matt Greenwood, Kirk Kepper, Kraig Kepper, Dr.Todd Howell, Dustin Johnson, Prentiss Tiger Smith, and Chad Bonanno. Honorary pallbearers are Jack & Taylor Billig.  

A Visitation will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 445 Marquette in Baton Rouge on Saturday, May 6, 2023, beginning at 9:00 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. celebrated by Father Cleo Milano. Interment will follow in Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Flowers may be sent directly to the Church.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com