REQUEST SUPPORT FOR BURIAL COSTS and OTHER END OF LIFE COSTS

(Seeking $4,000)

Bonnie L. Christiansen (aka The Bonz): Born 1951 in Seattle, Washington and died on February 8, 2025, Pasco, Washington

“But there was no need to be ashamed of tears, for tears bore witness that a human being had the greatest of courage, the courage to suffer.” By Viktor E. Frankl

She lived most of her 74 years alone with a few true friends. What do you say about a woman whose life was so full of hurt and pain that she appeared to be prickly to those around her? Bonnie’s view of the world was that of a “glass half empty” and as a result, her relationship with family and friends was deeply troubled and often fraught with conflict. If you were to describe Bonnie, she would most closely be identified with her love of being a “Long-Haul Trucker.” Bonnie’s trucking career was a fulfillment of a dream come true; even so, she found herself in multiple jobs and found great difficulty holding on to them. Bonnie was also known as a passionate sports fanatic, gathering statistics of all things Seattle sports-related and could speak in great detail of her beloved teams, coaches, and players. Even with all her financial difficulties, Bonnie had a generous nature when her finances allowed.

Almost all of Bonnie's friends were long-time Nazarene Church members whose fond memories kept them in contact over decades. Like many of us, these close church ties build family bonds. It was one of those long-time friends who first called the Pasco police in late January for a wellness check because they were unable to reach Bonnie. At that time, Bonnie was able to communicate that she was fine. The following week, other friends noticed her absence on social media, decreased comments before a complete lack of response to text messages, and alerted Bonnie’s lifetime best friend, Linda, who remained a loyal and consistent presence in Bonnie’s life. Linda contacted Pasco police who, upon entering the apartment, found that she had died. It was then that the police notified Linda of Bonnie's passing.

The coroner cited upon entering the apartment that it had earmarks of someone who struggled with mental illness. Bonnie had fallen and was found wedged between the wall and her bed, apparently unable to extricate herself from this position. Bonnie’s phone was found across the room on a table, making it impossible for her to call for help. The autopsy results revealed that she suffered from advanced colon cancer for an extended period of time. Bonnie was unaware of this diagnosis and was self-treating her pain with over-the-counter medications found in the apartment.

This is where we need help. Dying is expensive, even for the destitute. Linda had been identified as Bonnie’s emergency contact, and as a result, flew from Minnesota to Pasco to make final arrangements for her body, remove and dispose of Bonnie's few belongings in the apartment (recliner, a decades-old bed, a small television, some dishes, and mounds of trash). This required a court order to become Bonnie’s “Legal Representative” to make final cremation arrangements. These costs have exceeded $4,000.00 at this time. Linda, a widow, simply does not have this kind of money. Please consider a gift of whatever you feel led to give, as it would be most appreciated.