Robin Kay Bonathan

Robin Kay Bonathan, 59, of Pocatello, passed away on June 22, 2023.

It took a while to write this because we were not ready to let you go. We were not ready to move on without you. Sure, you passed on and joined your angel brother, your angel granddaughter, your dad, and countless family members. You left behind your mom, your brother, your sisters, your extended friends and family, the two miracles you were never expected to have; your children, and their children. Those grandchildren are your forever loves and greatest joy.

We cried, we celebrated, and we cried some more. While your body was gone, your essence remained. We find you in everyday objects; the soda you drank, the food you preferred, the shows you would watch, the flowers in the yard and the birds that we see. Your memory swirls all around us.

We cried, we celebrated, we cried; we picked ourselves back up. Who were we to forget the life lessons you have shared with us.

 Don’t feel sorry for yourself. You could have had the right to whine and complain, your life was not easy in many ways. You continued to thrive and make others feel good.

 Stay in contact. Communicating with others and keeping friends and family up to date was a skill set that you had. You shared our life events and kept us aware of other important things in the world.

 Don’t forget to laugh and enjoy things. Some favorite memories are stopping to laugh with you. We enjoyed the moments we were in.

 It is ok to take chances. You returned to school as an adult. That is not an easy task. You did it and showed that having physical challenges should not hold a person back.

 Be independent when you can. You had the right to go where you wanted. Even when we would be worried for you, you would be confident in your abilities.

 Family is everything. Your family was with you both physically and in spirit as you passed

 Don’t be afraid of change. You were born in California, yet as you aged and matured you split your time between Washington and Idaho states.

 Listen and advise without judgement. You were always willing to listen to us, our fears and dreams. You offered advice and guidance even when that was not what we asked for, but what we needed.

 Write your own rules. Your body had failed you since you were a young child. Look at how many obstacles you overcame. You defied doctor predictions time and time again.

 Love completely. You had a couple of loves in your life. You did not let challenges hold you back. You shared your love with others both near and far. You helped others know they were loved. 

 Don’t wait to celebrate. We honored you shortly after you passed. We honor you still today.

Your life lessons swirl around us.

We cried, we celebrated we cried. We realized, just because your body is gone, we do not have to let you go. Your memory swirls around us. Your life lessons swirl around us. You swirl around us. We are forever lucky because we do not have to let you go, and we can continue to move forward as if we will never be without you. Thank you for everything.

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