Obituaries

Alice Carmel Altier Bonifanti, a lifelong resident of Scranton, died on Wednesday evening. Born April 7, 1920, daughter of the late Alexander and Antoinette Del Rocco Altier, she was the wife of her beloved husband of 70 years, George J. Bonifanti. A 1938 graduate of the former Scranton Technical High School, she attended the Penn State Study Center and the American Red Cross School of Nursing. She was employed as a calligrapher for the former ICS and a bookkeeper for the former West Side Hospital. She met George in high school and married him before he shipped out to serve in WWII. He was the love of her life.
Alice received the American Red Cross Volunteer Special Service Certificate, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, for her service as a volunteer nurses’ aid during WWII. She was also honored by having her name inscribed as a WWII Honoree on the Veterans memorial in Washington, DC. Her husband, who is a charter member of the World War II Memorial honored her.
She has been a charter member of St Patrick’s Adult Choir for over 30 years, while also serving as a lector and a den Mother for Cub Scouts. She loved to travel and traveled throughout the United States and many foreign countries with her husband George. She loved to play pinochle, and loved her card-playing friends immensely. Her friends loved the way she would laugh and shout of her joy when she had a good run in cards.
She was a loving wife and mother, grandmother, daughter and sister, who loved family and enjoyed having her children and family around her. Alice had a big heart. She was selfless, always thinking of others and making sure they were taken care of. She was the best hostess and loved to cook and bake for her family and friends.
Surviving are her children, Alisann Bonifanti Romanelli and husband Ronald of Philadelphia., Gloria Pike and husband John of Ocala, Florida, Georgeanne Bonifanti Church and husband James of Manchester Center, Vermont, George F. Bonifanti and wife Michele of Hummelstown, and Richard Bonifanti and wife Beverly of Wilmington, Delaware; five grandchildren, Jeffrey Pike and wife Crystal, Christopher Bonifanti and wife, Jennifer, Jordan Church, Lorraine Schwartzentruber and husband, Myron, and Sarah Smallwood and husband Andy; four great grandchildren, Amelia and Nicholas Bonifanti and Michael Schwartzentruber; her brother, Michael Altier; and many nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by siblings, Elena Fabrio, Margaret Ippoliti, Alvera Brennan, Florence DeFazio, Angeline Marzzacco, Anthony, Philip, Herman, Arthur, Leonard, and Joseph Altier.
Funeral services are scheduled to begin on Monday at 9:15AM from the Kevin K. Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 125 North Main Avenue in Scranton, to be followed by a 10:00AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, 1403 Jackson Street in West Scranton. Entombment will follow in the Cathedral Cemetery Mausoleum. Relatives and friends wishing to pay their respects may do so on Sunday between 4-7:00PM at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Alice’s name to either St. Patrick’s Parish, 1403 Jackson St., Scranton, 18504; St. Joseph’s Center, 2010 Adams Avenue, Scranton, 18509; or to Visting Nurses Association, 301 Delaware Avenue, Olyphant, 18447, in appreciation of the tremendous care given to Alice during her illness.