Donald F. Bonno

Mass of Christian Burial for Donald F. Bonno, 93, of Pierrepont, will be held on Friday, October 31, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church, Colton. Burial in the St. Patrick's Cemetery will follow. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the O'Leary Funeral Home in Canton. Donald died on Friday, October 24, 2025 at the United Helpers Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Canton.

Donald was born June 24, 1932 in Pierrepont, a son of the late George and Lottie (Lapoint) Bonno. He attended Country Schools and graduated from Potsdam High School. Growing up on a small, struggling farm and losing his father at a young age, Donald had to do his part to help the family get by. He worked weekend jobs to earn money to help the family and joined the US Air Force when he could, following in his brothers footsteps. He would send money home to his mother to help her make ends meet.

Following his honorable service and discharge in 1960, Donald married Avis Mills on October 8, 1960 at St. Mary's Church in Canton. Mrs. Bonno predeceased him in April, 2013. Donald worked at the Unionville Paper Mill, Curtis Breeding Service, for Edwin "Doc" Smith and for Kraft Foods before being hired by the NYS Department of Transportation as a laborer, plowing snow, shoveling sand on the back of the dump truck and in to the "tag-along" spreader to keep the roads passable before automated sanders, in all kinds of weather with temperatures well below zero. Manual labor was not an unknown concept to Donald, he enjoyed cutting and splitting firewood, having processed innumerable cords in his time, he was an avid outdoorsman, a 65-year member of the Gulf Brook Club, where he spent many a frosty morning posting deer watch in the big woods.

Donald was a 50+ year member of the Pierrepont Volunteer Fire Department, he enjoyed gardening, berry picking and never found anyone or anything he could not carry on a conversation with.

Donald is survived by his two sons and daughters-in-law, Scott (Donna) Bonno and Leonard (Brenda) Bonno, grandchildren Leon Bonno, Eric (Charlene) Bonno, Erin Bonno and Ashley (John) Bonno-Cougler, great-grandchildren Lily, Colby and Kiley Bonno, John Porter, Jamey, Ellis and Josie Cougler.

In addition to his wife Avis and parents George and Lottie, Donald was predeceased by five siblings, Lillian Narrow, Earl Bonno Sr., Gilbert E "Jim" Bonno, Leonard E. Bonno and Paul Bonno.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Pierrepont Volunteer Fire Department, 62 Old County Road; Canton, New York 13617, the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 7, East Syracuse, NY 13057 or online at cancer.org, or to the North Country Center for the Visually Impaired, 22 US Oval – Suite B-15 Plattsburgh, New York, 12903.

Memories and condolences may be shared with Donald's family online at www.olearyfuneralservice.com. Arrangements for Donald F. Bonno are under the care of the O'Leary Funeral Service of Canton.

Pierrepont Volunteer Fire Department
60 Old County Road, Canton NY 13617

American Heart Association
P.O. Box 417005, Boston MA 02241
Web: http://heart.org