Bonnie Linda Acosta

West Springfield - Bonnie Linda Acosta (Duncan) 75, died on October 18, 2019 surrounded by loving family.  She was born in Springfield, and later attended Holyoke Community College to attain her Associates Degree in Nursing.  She returned to school and earned her R.N.  Bonnie loved nursing, and especially teaching fledgling nurses. She spent most of her professional career working on various floors within Baystate Medical Center.  She also enjoyed working at the VNA, doing mother and infant care.  She ultimately retired from MassMutual as a Case Manager.  In her spare time Bonnie loved to crochet, enjoyed reading and cooking, but spent her favorite times camping with her family at the beach in Rhode Island. Bonnie was very social and quick-witted, and loved a good debate. She loved Christmas, and held deeply to long standing family traditions, and was vocal about change. She was very caring and loving and will be deeply missed.  She leaves behind her husband Rene, her daughter Lori Laffin (Keith) of Bedford, OH, her son Scott Acosta (Christine) of Westfield, MA along with grandchildren Sam, Delcie and Emily. She is survived by her sister Dianna Sabourin of Suffield, CT, and Dawn Duncan (Bill Bedard) of Longmeadow, MA. Services are being held privately by the family. Memorial contributions can be made in Bonnie's name to the American Stroke Association 20 Speen Street Framingham, MA 01701-4688. To leave a message of personal condolence or for more information please visit www.forastiere.com.

The following was written by Bonnie’s Grandson Sam-

I have been told that size always matters,
but here laid a woman,
all broken and battered.
And even though she was five feet tall,
her shoes could fill an entire hall.
And as she laid on that soft cotton bed,
with beads of sweat drenching her head,
her body tightened as her cough got worse,
and Death clopped on in on His skeletal horse.
But without talking she spoke to Death,
through her wheezing cough and her shallow breaths.
With much difficulty she turned and said:
with her face now losing most of its red;
"If you're taking me and I have to go,
I will not go to put on a show."
For though her body was loosely dressed,
she had a soul,
naked without rest.
So she seized Death's shirt,
and dressed with a smile,
and grabbing His pants,
did not take a while.
Then she turned her gaze to glower at Death,
and let out a cough to rival all of the rest.
Now with a blank look on her face and triumph in her soul,
she grabbed the reigns, 
and started to pull.
Naked and blushing,
Death had been staring,
for His dignity was taken and this woman was wearing.
So after a bit he hopped on,
and rode without stopping, 
though I will never forget the sound of hooves clopping.
But how Death could even take her at all,
is not a reason that I could recall.
For this was a woman who was measured in years,
because she couldn't be measured in fears.
She couldn't be measured in aches or pains,
or be measured by her popped out veins.
And though they've tried to measure in  height,
they never could ever get it right.
All I know is that she is riding still,
and the shoes she's left are too big for anyone to fill.