Bonnie L. Tennant

Bonnie L. Tennant, 84, of Atglen, PA, passed away suddenly on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at the Chester County Hospital in West Chester, PA, surrounded by her family. She was the beloved wife of William H. Tennant, Jr., with whom she shared 65 years of “wedded bliss.” Born in Coatesville, PA, she was the daughter of the late Edwin J. Elliott, Sr. and Ruth Soulliard Elliott. She is survived, in addition to her husband, by two daughters: Dawn Marie Scaccia and husband Leo of Georgetown, PA and Bridget Lane Thrash and husband Daniel of Downingtown, PA, two grandchildren; Morgan Scaccia Wild and Christian Scaccia, seven great grandchildren, a brother, Barry L. Elliott of Ruskin, Florida, many nieces and nephews, as well as sisters and brothers by marriage.  She was preceded in death by siblings, Edwin J. Elliott Jr., and Wanda F. Labiak.

Bonnie was an area resident all her life.  She grew up in Coatesville and graduated in 1958 from the former Scott High School.  After marrying, she and Bill moved to Atglen in early 1963, becoming one of the “young couples” of in town, staying to declare “now we are the old ones”.  She was employed at the former Butler’s Hardware Store as their bookkeeper starting in 1969, staying through to later work for Walter and Jackson in Parkesburg, PA where among other things she loved sharing her Christmas spirit and creativity each year setting up the Christmas shop with unique decorations and gifts. 

Quietly devoted to her faith, Bonnie was a member of the Penningtonville United Presbyterian Church in Atglen, PA for over 60 years. She served as a Deacon for a number of years and also enjoyed singing in the choir, performing with the bell choir and participating in the women’s group.  Her gift for sewing and art provided beautiful event banners and Vacation Bible School projects.   Many long-lasting friendships started over prayer and song.  Bonnie had circles of friends spanning all ages and interests. Childhood friends, work friends, church friends, neighborhood friends, she loved you all!  No one stayed a stranger for long.  

If you knew Bonnie, you knew her passion for gardening which she considered both exercise and therapy. If it was nice out and you drove up Valley Avenue, you likely saw her out there, butt in the air, weeding and tending to her massive, beautiful gardens filled with too many plants and flowers to recall.  She especially loved it when strangers would stop by and comment on her gardens and without hesitation, she’d be giving the tour.  If you like a plant, she’d get the shovel and share a piece or tell you to stop back when it was time to divide them.  When she was done, she loved sitting in her comfy rocker on her big front porch, saying hi to passers-by or inviting them to come sit. She loved reading a good novel and doing crossword or sudoku puzzles in pen.  Of course, there was always YouTube gardening shows and trips to the hundreds of hidden greenhouses throughout the area…always in pursuit of a plant she just saw.  Bonnie loved order, and her home was no exception. It was always clean from top to bottom, with the standing joke that we need to clean the basement and attic because company was coming. She also cleaned before the cleaning girl came. The only exception were her piles for projects she was working on but even they were organized.

She was a talented artist and quilter and created many beautiful things for her home and family through the years that will be held as cherished treasures.  Bonnie loved Christmas and her decorations and trees were works of art. Each doorway, sill and surface perfectly adorned.  She loved angels and her favorite tree was one she covered with hundreds of angels (and one chicken).  To her, beyond her over the top decorations, Christmas was for the kids.  Gifts were always perfect, plentiful and even in all ways, even if she had to add a ChapStick to a pile.  She never missed a Christmas morning, dragging Bill, who has been known to embrace a bit of a bah-humbug, to see the grands and great grands open presents, because we all know Bill would eventually say, “Whatever Bonnie wants, Bonnie gets!”

Bonnie’s greatest joy was family.  She took every opportunity to express how proud she was and to make sure we all knew how much she loved us. She was OUR best mom (because everyone thinks their mom is the best) offering up everything from hand sewn flannel nightgowns with extra length for growing and award winning Halloween costumes, and her time as a Scout leader. She had many classic lines during the trials and tribulations of getting through those teen years that her daughters call on with frequency.  At the end of the day, she would always say, “I’ll keep the two I got!”  She adored both of her son-in-laws, who could do no wrong even when they would catch her up with jokes that she would fall trap to, EVERY TIME!  Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were food for her soul.  She was the storybook perfect “Nanny”, teaching all the important things in life like how to run backwards across the yard, how to get the best speed when sliding down the steps on your butt, how to swim without getting HER hair wet and how to enjoy every day as an adventure. She passed on no opportunity to spend time with any of us.  If you showed up and asked her if she wanted to go anywhere or do anything, she’d say, “give me a minute to fix myself” and off we’d go.

We will remember our wife, mom, Nanny, sister, aunt, and friend for her warm smile, because in her opinion, “why not?” and “if you have to get wrinkles, at least they are from smiling and not frowning;” her beauty and fashionista style; her kind heart, joy for life and laughter and her BIG LOVE! 

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 12:00 noon from the Penningtonville Presbyterian Church, 406 Main St. Atglen, PA, with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. until service time.  Interment will be at the convenience of the family.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The American Cancer Society or The American Heart Association. To make a donation to The American Cancer Society please click HERE or The American Heart Association click HERE.

A live stream of the service will be provided for those unable to attend. To watch the live stream the day of the service please click HERE. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Wilde Funeral Home of Parkesburg, PA.  Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com