Bonita Sansone Sammarco's Obituary
Bonita Sansone Sammarco, 66, of Germantown, Tennessee, passed away in Houston, Texas, surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with leukemia.
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Bonita was a loving wife, mother, sister, and friend. She graduated from Bishop Byrne High School in 1977 and earned her Bachelor of Science from Christian Brothers University in 1981. After a dedicated 18-year career as a structural and civil engineer, Bonita turned her attention to what she lovingly called her life’s “most important project” – raising her daughter, Grace.
Bonita developed a passion for tennis in her 40s, and was known for her fighting spirit both on and off the court. She captained teams for 16 years, even during her illness, and was honored as USTA Tennessee 2023 Adult Captain of the Year. Her final trip was to Chattanooga to cheer on her beloved team.
She enjoyed playing mahjong with lifelong friends, curling up on the couch with her cat Reggie, and sharing laughter through her signature one-liners and quotes.
Above all, Bonita was a faithful child of God. She walked closely with the Lord, showing bravery in the face of illness, an unmistakable spirit, and a gentle love for others.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Sam Sansone.
Bonita is survived by her devoted husband of 43 years, Tim Sammarco; her beloved daughter, Grace Sammarco; and her caring brother, Michael Sansone.
The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to their “Texas village” for their unwavering support during Bonita’s treatment at MD Anderson: Bonita’s caregiver, Melissa Rivera, drivers and friends Leo and Manal Rodhan, Rotary House Hotel Room Operations Manager Rita Walker, and Rotary House Hotel barista Rosemary Lopez. Special thanks also to her medical care teams at MD Anderson and in Memphis.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Memorial Park Funeral Home from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., with a memorial service to follow at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center ( https://gifts.mdanderson.org/Default.aspx?tsid=8443 ) or the
Memphis & Shelby County Humane Society ( https://4agc.com/donation_pages/d2cd4e56-a65a-4dc9-99e3-be3eaf7400a3 )
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