Carmen Marie Anne Bonin Danner

Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home

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Posted by: Fuqua-Bankston
www.fuquabankston.com
334-774-4551
Date: Sep 10 2014 3:20 PM

Carmen Marie Anne Bonin Danner of Ariton passed away Tuesday, September 09, 2014, at Dale Medical Center.  She was 58 years of age.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Friday, September 12, 2014 in the chapel at Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home with Reverend David Walsh officiating.  Burial will follow at Evergreen Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery with Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home directing.  Visitation will be held from 10:00am until the time of service on Friday at the funeral home.

Carmen was born October 19, 1955 in Sudbury, Ontario to Laurier and Rita Laframboise Bonin.  She was preceded in death by her father.

Carmen was one of five girls growing up in the 50's in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada and being the youngest, showed a lot of determination and courage. From an early age, she wanted to help others in need and during her high school years, undertook training in first aid and volunteered for the St. John Ambulance. This interest in caring, especially towards animals, was often expressed as a desire to work in the field of animal care. Following high school, she pursued a variety of work experiences but for many years, none directly in the area of animal care.

Some years later, after she met and married Larry Danner, the love of her life, she was able to fulfill another of her interests - to travel and experience other parts of the world. When they moved to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, where Larry took on a four year posting for Bell Helicopters, Carmen really spread her wings. She enjoyed extensive travel with Larry while overseas and fostered many friendships in those years. While in Dubai, Carmen somehow rescued a Border Collie in distress and provided a loving home for him. Even though she was a life-long dog lover, Bandit was the first dog she actually owned and she lavished him with care and affection. When their posting ended, there was no doubt that the dog, Shiloh, would be returning with them, which it did, when they moved to Fort Worth, Texas.

Carmen’s love of dogs knew few boundaries and she understood and appreciated the joy dogs and other animals could bring to people. For example, in 2013 when she was unable to join the rest of the family gathered in Sudbury for Mother’s Day, she arranged to surprise her Mother and the whole family, with the visit of three Shih Tzu companion dogs through a company known as "Magical Paws". Her Mother, as well as other residents, was aglow with joy on this memorable occasion and the story made front page news at the York Extendicare Residence.

Carmen grew up in a large francophone family where music making and the lively gatherings with family and friends entertaining each other had quite an influence on her. She loved music and over those early years, actively participated in the many sing-alongs and merriment around the family piano. She also took piano lessons in her younger days and in the last year, expressed an interest in dusting off some of the piano music she once played including a Schubert Scherzo. We don't know whether she was able to reconnect with some of her favourite pieces - sometimes just starting to plan a project or approach can bring a degree of satisfaction.

Carmen struggled with several health issues but her warm and sensitive nature, always shone through and she never forgot a birthday, anniversary or special occasion and never failed to express her love and best wishes with a phone call or an interesting card.

Carmen expressed that she got a great deal of pleasure out of listening to her sister Michelle's CD of piano pieces. In saying "Au Revoir" and in celebration of Carmen, we would like to play Clair de Lune by Debussy, which was one of Carmen's favorite pieces.

Carmen is survived by her husband of 21 years, Larry Danner of Ariton; her mother, Rita Bonin of Sudbury, Ontario; her sisters, Claudette Medrano and her husband, Dr. Jose’ Medrano of Houston, TX., Pauline Miville-Deschemes and her husband, Jacques of Montreal, Quebec, Michelle Stewart and her husband, Bill of Courtnay, British Columbia and Suzanne Williams and her husband Emilio of Sudbury, Ontario; her three step-daughters, Deniese Fritz, Gloria Diehl and Sheila Rae all of Amarillo, TX; her step-son, Alan Danner and his wife, Kanani of Amarillo, TX.

Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home is Ozark (334) 774-4551 is in charge of the arrangements.  Condolences may be offered at www.fuquabankston.com.

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