"Fill my heart with song and let me sing for ever more." This line from one of my mother's favorites recording artists was surely in her wishes on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 when she breathed her final breath. Now she sings among the stars. Bonny Reed Zech loved to sing, and in her happiest times she sang often and beautifully. From lullabies to classics she sang in performance halls as easily as at home, with love and joy in her heart. Born in Los Angeles on February 5th, 1926, Bonny Reed attended Hollywood High School and was no stranger to those who would soon be famous celebrities. These times helped form her character and memorable sense of style. After attending college in Oregon she married her high school sweetheart, Richard K. Mailheau. The two moved to Catalina where she was crowned Miss Catalina in 1948. Soon after, their son, Dean R. Mailheau, was born. They returned to the Los Angeles area where their daughter, Susan L. Mailheau, was born. Several years later, the couple divorced but remained friendly as Bonny raised her two children. She always provided a home in the leanest times. Her children both knew every song she sang, whether singing for pure joy, or while rehearsing for a Sweet Adelines performance. Time went on, and Bonny was briefly married a second time. Bonny worked as a nurse, and she was blessed to have a wonderful employer, Dr. Alex P. Jardini, who was a mentor and perhaps the last of the true great doctors. Under his employ for well over 20 years, Bonny earned the credentials of Registered Nurse Practitioner. After work she often made house calls and a great many of her patients loved her dearly. For many years Bonny lived in her beloved town of Montrose in Crescenta Valley, California where she lovingly cared for her dogs and garden. She especially loved the roses which she tended with care and reaped the benefits by basking in the sun with their scent. While living frugally herself she gave generously to her family with gifts and a college education, and she donated to all causes which promised to protect animals and their habitat. Bonny enjoyed entertaining friends and family, and was well known for her annual Luau around which many friends would plan their summer schedules. With the help of her daughter, the activities of decorating and food preparation brought wonderful fun. In 1990 her beautiful yard became overshadowed by a neighbor and Bonny moved to Hawaii where her son and his family resided. He took her to dinners and movies, and a Johnny Mathis concert. She joined Kaneohe Yacht Club and discovered a love for volunteering with race committees and writing race results. Bonny made many new friends here, and among her neighbors. She enjoyed living in Hawaii surrounded by sunshine, the scent of flowers and song of birds. Natural beauty was always embraced and reflected throughout her life. Bonny was strong yet sensitive, independent, and active to the end until she became suddenly ill and passed away at the age of 92. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Randall Moon; and by her son, and his wife Judy Mailheau, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Throughout her life one overriding quality that defined Bonny was her beauty, both inside and out. Friends remember her kindness as well as her beauty. And those who knew her knew that her deepest love was for animals and all of Nature. In her memory, she would have liked this great love to be embraced by all, and to inspire all to be kinder to the Earth. In lieu of flowers, please honor Bonny by making a donation to a charity in her name. Should you faintly hear the voice of a beautiful songbird, look and listen carefully, for it may be her.
"Fill my heart with song and let me sing for ever more." This line from one of my mother's favorites recording artists was surely in her wishes on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 when she breathed her final breath. Now she sings among the stars. Bonny Reed Zech loved to sing, and in her happiest times she sang often and beautifully. From lullabies to classics she sang in performance halls as easily as at home, with love and joy in her heart. Born in Los Angeles on February 5th, 1926, Bonny Reed attended Hollywood High School and was no stranger to those who would soon be famous celebrities. These times helped form her character and memorable sense of style. After attending college in Oregon she married her high school sweetheart, Richard K. Mailheau. The two moved to Catalina where she was crowned Miss Catalina in 1948. Soon after, their son, Dean R. Mailheau, was born. They returned to the Los Angeles area where their daughter, Susan L. Mailheau, was born. Several years later, the couple divorced but remained friendly as Bonny raised her two children. She always provided a home in the leanest times. Her children both knew every song she sang, whether singing for pure joy, or while rehearsing for a Sweet Adelines performance. Time went on, and Bonny was briefly married a second time. Bonny worked as a nurse, and she was blessed to have a wonderful employer, Dr. Alex P. Jardini, who was a mentor and perhaps the last of the true great doctors. Under his employ for well over 20 years, Bonny earned the credentials of Registered Nurse Practitioner. After work she often made house calls and a great many of her patients loved her dearly. For many years Bonny lived in her beloved town of Montrose in Crescenta Valley, California where she lovingly cared for her dogs and garden. She especially loved the roses which she tended with care and reaped the benefits by basking in the sun with their scent. While living frugally herself she gave generously to her family with gifts and a college education, and she donated to all causes which promised to protect animals and their habitat. Bonny enjoyed entertaining friends and family, and was well known for her annual Luau around which many friends would plan their summer schedules. With the help of her daughter, the activities of decorating and food preparation brought wonderful fun. In 1990 her beautiful yard became overshadowed by a neighbor and Bonny moved to Hawaii where her son and his family resided. He took her to dinners and movies, and a Johnny Mathis concert. She joined Kaneohe Yacht Club and discovered a love for volunteering with race committees and writing race results. Bonny made many new friends here, and among her neighbors. She enjoyed living in Hawaii surrounded by sunshine, the scent of flowers and song of birds. Natural beauty was always embraced and reflected throughout her life. Bonny was strong yet sensitive, independent, and active to the end until she became suddenly ill and passed away at the age of 92. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Randall Moon; and by her son, and his wife Judy Mailheau, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Throughout her life one overriding quality that defined Bonny was her beauty, both inside and out. Friends remember her kindness as well as her beauty. And those who knew her knew that her deepest love was for animals and all of Nature. In her memory, she would have liked this great love to be embraced by all, and to inspire all to be kinder to the Earth. In lieu of flowers, please honor Bonny by making a donation to a charity in her name. Should you faintly hear the voice of a beautiful songbird, look and listen carefully, for it may be her.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
