Obituary of Maria Del Carmen Bonano

In Loving Memory of Maria Del Carmen Bonano November 18, 1947 – April 8, 2025 It's hard to put into words the life of a woman as remarkable as our mother, Maria Del Carmen Bonano — or as many knew her, Carmín, Carmen, or simply, Mami. Born and raised in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, she was the eldest daughter in a family of 21 children. From her earliest days, Mami embodied strength, resilience, and a deep love for faith, family, and food — the core of our Puerto Rican culture. Mami was a single mother with the strength of twenty, raising three children — myself, Jaqueline, and Tomás — and later, helping to raise her grandson Paul Michael. She was a self-taught chef whose seafood paellas became famous in our town, feeding locals and tourists alike. Even during crisis, like Hurricane Hugo in 1989, she found a way to cook for an entire neighborhood from our small home — turning hardship into community with a warm meal and a big heart. While working in a restaurant, she pursued her degree in education at Universidad Interamericana and graduated with honors. Mami believed that teaching was just as noble as healing, and her students knew they had something special in her — a teacher who was also a nurturer, a mentor, and sometimes a second mother. She was honored as Teacher of the Year and left a legacy in the schools of Fajardo, Ceiba, and Luquillo. Later in life, Mami deepened her relationship with Jehovah, becoming a devoted Jehovah's Witness and serving faithfully in the Kingdom Halls of Fajardo and Mount Vernon. Her faith gave her strength, structure, and peace, and she never stopped sharing its light with those she loved. To us — her children and grandchildren — she was our heart. She leaves behind me, her eldest daughter Janet, along with my siblings Jaqueline and Tomás, her beloved grandchildren Paul and Alexandra, and her great-granddaughter Darla, who brought her immense joy in her later years. She also leaves behind her church family, many siblings, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and dear friends — chosen and born. Mami lived her life with courage, humility, joy, and conviction. She taught us to be proud of who we are, to find strength in our faith, and to always, always feed others — body and soul. Her legacy will live on in every story told, every dish shared, every lesson passed down. And most of all, in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to be loved by her.