Elisa Bonilla

Elisa R. Bonilla, 97, of Amarillo passed from this life, to be with her Lord on Thursday, February 7, 2019, surrounded by her loving family. Family and friends will gather to celebrate her life at 10:00 am Monday, February 11, 2019, at LaGrone Blackburn Shaw Coulter Road Chapel, with Emmanuel Burgos officiating. Burial will follow in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are under the personal care of LaGrone Blackburn Shaw Funeral Directors, 8310 S. Coulter Road.

Elisa was born on April 9, 1921, in Van Horn, Texas to Austroberto and Isidora Rodriquez. Elisa worked from her home, she was a supervisor. Supervisor of life, love, compassion, advice and faith, Elisa was always faithful to her Lord and her church. Her last words to anyone leaving her presence would be “Be Careful and God Bless You”. She loved to travel, even though she never drove a car. She was a loving, supportive mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Elisa was a wonderful, made from scratch, cook and baker all in one. Her renowned cooking skills started as soon as she could reach the stove. She couldn’t get in the door at the Church Bazaar before her salsa, bischochitos, or burritos were already claimed and sold. She was also a huge wrestling fan for the last 75 years or so. You could find her in front of the TV giving advice and wincing in pain with each punch and body slam.

She was a woman of few words, but her words of wisdom will continue throughout those lives that have crossed her path. She was a wonderful woman.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Austroberto and Isidora Rodriguez; her husband of 71 years, Sylvester Bonilla; a son, Oscar Bonilla; two brothers and two sisters.

Left to cherish her memory are her three daughters; Lilia B. Escajeda, Jovita Bromley and husband Michael and Melva Ornelas and husband Francisco, all of Amarillo; three sons, Silvestre Bonilla and wife Paige Ann of Frisco; Tomas Bonilla and wife Christi of Amarillo and Joel Bonilla and wife April of Amarillo; a sister, Rebecca Reyes, of Runge, TX; 16 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren and numerous extended family members.
The family would like to thank Michael Bromley for being extremely supportive and loving to Jovita through our parents’ life journey.

The family would also like to thank the staff at Autumn Leaves for their care of our mother Elisa.
The family will receive family and friends on Sunday, February 10, 2019, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorials to Autumn Leaves Memory Care on Hillside or Alzheimer’s Asso