ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. Obituary for: NEBEL,w BONITA GADBOIS Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. Source: The St. Tammany News, St. Tammany, La. Published on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 ======================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.shtml ======================================================================= NOTE: If a Photo is available for an obituary record, a reference note will be included with the record. =========================================================== NEBEL ========== A photo is available for this file. Please go to http://usgwarchives.net/la/sttammany/obits/dateobits/2011/st1108.htm and click to view list of photos. ========== Bonita Gadbois Nebel passed away peacefully August 4, 2011, at the age of 89. She was the beloved wife of the late Ray J. Nebel. BonitaÕs life began on May 11, 1922, in Jefferson, S.D. She was the middle child of 15 children born to Ida (St. Onge) and Dominique Gadbois. She had one adopted sister. She grew up on a farm near Howard, S.D. She was preceded in death by nine brothers and two sisters. One brother, Art Gadbois of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and three sisters, Patricia Schaeffer of Portland, Ore., Mary Protsch and her husband, Vince of Howard, S.D., and June Herke of Watertown, S.D. survive her. She graduated in 1944 from St. JosephÕs School of Nursing. During World War II, she began her nursing career serving in the United States Army from 1944 to 1946 and became a 2nd lieutenant. She was stationed in Berlin, Germany in 1946 caring for the injured American soldiers. She was awarded the EAME Theater Ribbon, Occupation Ribbon (German) and the Victory Medal. She met Ray Nebel on an Army transport ship, traveling from Germany to England. When she returned to South Dakota he sent her one-way train ticket to New Orleans. Although she called New Orleans her home for the remainder of her life, it was her early life in South Dakota, growing up on a farm in a large loving family, that remained closest to her heart. Her nursing career in New Orleans continued at Hotel Dieu Hospital. She also worked at Charity Hospital, Baptist Hospital, and finally retired from Tulane University where she cared for college students at the on-campus infirmary. Her special joys in life were gardening, singing, and dancing. She loved to share cuttings from her garden with neighbors and friends. Always the life of the party, she never met a stranger and delighted in new adventures. Her courage, hard work, determination, and love of laughter will be remembered by the many people her life touched. She was a member of St. Pius X Church, St. Pius X Choir, NAIM, Lakeview Shepherd Center, World Trade Club, and Lake Vista Garden Club and resided at South Side Gardens in Baton Rouge after Hurricane Katrina before returning home to New Orleans. Her five daughters, one son and their spouses survive her. They are, Jenny Hudson, Janice Leblanc (Brad McCuen), Diana Palmer (Mickey), Henrietta Heuer, Jeannette Thriffiley (Peter), and Ray James Nebel (Renee). Her beloved son, Todd M. Nebel, preceded her in death. She was affectionately known as ÒGrandma BunnyÓ by her 13 grandchildren, Jason Rothschmidth, Rhonda Ater, Amy Louise Palmer, Leigh Anne Palmer, Beau Leblanc, Hunter Leblanc, Marie Karem, Joseph Tridico, Peter Thriffiley, Jr., Michael Thriffiley, Claire Thriffiley, Katherine Nebel, Ray Nebel, Jr., and four great- grandchildren. The family would like to express its special thanks and appreciation to the staff of Heart of Hospice and her special Òangels,Ó Holly, Susan, Chermaine, Mary, Rose and Deirdre for their love and care during her final journey. A funeral Mass, celebrated by the Rev. Cliton J. Doskey, was held Monday at St. Pius X Church, 6666 Spanish Fort Blvd., New Orleans. Interment was in the Garden of Memories Metairie. Memorial donations may be made to the Lakeview Shepherd Center 316 38th Street, New Orleans, LA. 70124. ===================