Bonnie (Bonita Adrienne) Kubitza was born in Dawson Creek, B.C. on December 18, 1943 to Gerda and Ed Todd. At the age of two, the family moved to Blackfalds, Alberta where Bonnie and her younger sister, Barbara, were raised by their parents. Bonnie graduated from Lacombe Senior High in 1961, and subsequently moved to Calgary AB where she attended Mount Royal College from 1962 through 1963 where she completed the Secretarial Course. She gained employment with Canadian Western Natural Gas for a year and a half in the Purchasing Department until December 1964.
That December, Bonnie embarked on the adventure of a lifetime and moved to Bomi Hills, Liberia (West Africa), with her mother’s sister and brother-in-law, Hilda and Vance Capron, where she worked for the Liberia Mining Company hospital for six years. During her time there Bonnie made many friends, and met her future husband, Herbert Kubitza, who was a chemist from Bottrop, Germany. Bonnie and Herbert were married on April 12, 1967, in a small close- knit ceremony.
In 1971 Bonnie and Herbert returned to Canada and moved to Grande Cache AB. On July 8, 1972, Bonnie gave birth to her daughter, Marja. In 1973 the family moved to Logan Lake BC, and on September 16, 1974, Bonnie gave birth to her son, Mark. Logan Lake was home until December 1980, when Bonnie moved to Salmon Arm BC, after Herbert passed away from cancer earlier that year.
Bonnie faced seemingly insurmountable tasks that come with such a life changing event, and she met them head-on with poise, grace, and an undefeatable inner strength. In the fall of 1981 Bonnie gained part-time employment with the Shuswap School District as a Library Clerk/Teacher Aide, and over the following years worked through a number of positions as Secretary, Special Assistant, Suspension Room Aide, Library Clerk, and finally full-time employment was the Confidential Secretary of Personnel.
Bonnie put Marja and Mark before all else, ensuring that they were well fed, had a safe and clean home, an open and trusting relationship within the family, new clothes and school supplies each year, opportunities to take part in extra-curricular sports and clubs, and even a family trip to Europe and Disneyland. Bonnie had the hard talks about drugs, alcohol, relationships, the importance of honesty and trust, and working hard at everything you do, all the while teaching the hard lesson of money management on a single income. And Bonne was often found in her rocking chair, eager to listen to what her children and their friends wanted to share about what was happening in their lives.
Bonnie exemplified true self-sacrifice, in that she put her personal life on hold until Marja and Mark were in high school. Bonnie then joined a bowling league, and in the early part of 1989, a kind and gentle man, with a huge heart and immense sense of humor, joined her team. On November 9, 1993, Harry Dubinsky moved in with Bonnie, and on July 12, 1997, Bonnie married the absolute love of her life.
On December 31, 2003, Bonnie retired from the position of Human Resources Officer at the Shuswap School District and she and Harry began to enjoy their retirement years, with trips to Nashville, Australia, Hawaii, and various Canadian provinces to name a few.
On November 16, 2012, Harry passed away, and in April 2013, Bonnie sold the family home in Salmon Arm and moved to Vancouver Island to be closer to Marja and Mark.
Bonnie passed away on June 24, 2024, and is survived by her daughter Marja and husband Lachlan Mackenzie, her son Mark and wife Amie and grandchild Aurora, her sister Barb Martin, and her niece Karina and husband Donny.
By her own request there is no visitation and no funeral, and arrangements for cremation are in the care of Simply Cremations & Funeral Services, Sidney BC.
Email condolences may be sent to Bonnie’s obituary at: www.victoriasimplycremations.com
In lieu of flowers, Bonnie has requested that consideration be given to making a donation to the Salmon Arm Transition House (formerly the Women’s Emergency Shelter) at: https://safesociety.ca/emergency-shelter/
Dear Aunt Bonnie,
*Marja and Mark (and their families),
Gerda and Ed Todd
I will write in German, because I am afraid, that ” my translator doesn’t find ” the correct words. SoRRY! —
Ich möchte mich bedanken bei dir, Tante Bonnie, die mich im Jahr 1980 “aufgenommen” hat wie ihr 3. Kind! Ich war 16, mein Englisch war nicht gut, wir kannten uns nicht wirklich, trotzdem fühlte ich mich von Anfang an wohlbehütet, gern willkommen und ernst genommen!
— immer konnte ich “meine probleme” mit dir besprechen, wie oft saßen wir gemeinsam im “living-room”, bis spät abends, Marja hat schlafgewandelt….
Du hast mich in deine Familie integriert!
Ich habe Marja und Mark ( damals 8 und 6 Jahre) kennengelernt, ( kam mir in diesem Alter wie die große Schwester vor),
Ich habe deine Eltern , Gerda und Ed, kennengelernt, die mich – wie Großeltern es tun – behandelt haben… –
Ihnen verdanke ich, dass ich Wasserski fahren gelernt habe, Kanu gefahren bin,… etc… –
Ich schätze beide sehr und habe so viele Erinnerungen ….
—-
Viele Jahre war der Kontakt sehr eng, ich war mehrmals in Kanada,
zuletzt 1999,
du warst mit den Kindern und deinen Eltern auf ” Europatour”, auch in Schweden, wo deine Mutter herkommt, da war ich auch mit,
Marja war mit Lach unter anderem in Deutschland, auch kurz bei mir…..
—-
Ich fühle mich irgendwie schlecht, da ich es nicht geschafft habe, den kon takt zu dir aufrechtzuerhalten… – Das tut mir sehr leid, ich glaube aber, dass du weißt, dass das nicht mit dir zu tun hat!! – Ich war – warum auch immer- nicht in de Lage dazu. Sorry!
Daher hoffe und wünsche ich mir sehr, dass ich mit deinen Kindern wieder den Kontakt aufleben lassen kann!!!
THANK YOU FOR ALL, Aunt Bonnie,
Du bist immer in meiner Erinnerung, Ursula ( ulla)
Judson and I had the pleasure and good fortune of meeting Bonnie about 5 years ago. Within minutes of meeting her, she wiggled her way into our hearts and left deep footprints. It was like we had known each other our whole lives. Her sweet smile and beautiful spirit will never be forgotten. Thank you Maria, for trusting us with her and letting her into our lives. That gesture was truly a gift. We will miss her so much. We hold her and her lovely family close in our hearts
Fly Angel Bonnie, spread your beautiful wings!! We will be looking up in the skies for you
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Sylvia
We will always have you in our hearts. Our Friendship has been about 56 years, Started way back in Liberia West Africa till now
We will always remember you as a close friend. May you rest in peace
Miatta and family
Reading Bonnie’s life story makes me realize what an adventurous journey it was. Your mother truly was a courageous woman.
I only know Bonnie from afar as I am the daughter of Johannes Alkemper who was Herbert’s friend in Bottrop. After Herbert’s untimely death Bonnie took all her family (children and parents) on a trip through Europe. They spend some time in Bottrop with Herbert’s mother and they took my sister Ursula and me along on parts of their European round trips. I still have great memories of that time – not least because Bonnie sent us photo books of our trips the following Christmas. I still hold in honor my photo book covering the trips to Southern Germany and Switzerland.
As Herbert was the Kubitza’s only son and as Herbert’s fathers had died shortly before him, Mrs Kubitza was sad that her daughter-in-law and her grandchildren were so far away. But Bonnie managed to keep her mother-in-law up the date with their family life. Regularly she send long letters and lots of photos to show how well the children were doing, how they were good at their sport, how they celebrated Christmas etc. Mrs Kubitza send reply letters as well. And I was in between working a translator for both parties. This systems kept going for years and I remember that I was so impressed by Bonnie’s loyalty and reliability to stay in touch with her mother-in-law for so many years.
And she also stayed in close contact with my family. Bonnie always kept in touch and invited us over for visits to Canada. Ursula spent some of her summers in Salmon Arms which she found amazing. And even my parents went over to visit Bonnie and her family in the 1980s.
Bonnie was an amazing person. I really admire both her strength and discipline and her loyalty and generosity as well. She left a great impression on me and I am very grateful to have known her. All the Alkemper family send their love to Marja and Mark. We will always remember Bonnie with deep sympathy.
I spoke to Mum and Dad and Ursula. They all send their love and condolences. On the phone we went through the moments where you were over here with your family and the summers Ursula spent with you. They were and are very fond memories.
I am sorry I am so late to contact you again. These final two weeks at school are sooooo busy. And even at the weekend there are school parties and other leaving events. But the end is in sight. From next Friday on it’s the summer break and I will have lots of time on my hands then.
I will write again then.
Lots of love
Dorothee
“Bonnie and I would meet almost everyday at 10 o’clock for coffee and cookies where we would chat about life in Salmon Arm among other things. I miss my dear friend.
I am sending my condolences to Marja, Mark and families.”
Sincerely,
June Welter
Dear Suzie. Thank you for your kind words. You are family and mom loved nothing more than your presence. Much love and hugs.
What an amazing woman and an amazing life. We should all be so lucky and loved. Bonnie was a true inspiration and warrior who will not be forgotten. Love to her family, who supported her through thick and thin.