Obituary of Lillian A. Bonanni

Lillian Angela Bonanni October 2, 1932 – May 3, 2024 Lillian (“Lila”) Bonanni of Pittsford passed away at age 91 on May 3, 2024, surrounded by family at Strong Memorial Hospital. Lila was born in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn in 1932 at the height of the Depression. She was raised by hard-working immigrants from Salerno in an Italian-speaking home. With a working mother, Lila played a big role in raising her younger sister, Claudia, five years her junior. She learned piano from a young age: despite her parents’ modest income, they gifted her with a baby grand piano for her “Sweet Sixteenth” birthday. Lila attended Hunter College, where she majored in Romance Languages. She had to take three buses from Brooklyn to get to her classes at Hunter while also working part-time in the bridal shop at Abraham & Strauss. Lila met her first husband Leo Balandis at a local church dance. They married on February 13, 1954, and spent their “honeymoon” driving to the military base in Huntsville, Alabama where Leo was stationed, making stops at various sites. It was the first time she had left New York. When they returned to New York, Lila’s first teaching position was in Far Rockaway, Queens where she taught Special Education. In 1965, Lila and Leo moved from Long Island to Pittsford for Leo’s engineering job at Xerox. Lila quickly made enduring friendships, involving herself in the Sherwood neighborhood “gourmet dinner group,” the Garden Club, and scouting. She taught piano in their home, and enjoyed both Geva Theater and the Rochester Philarmonic. She was both politically and civically active: with the Rochester Democrats, the “Urban-Suburban” program to promote diversity and educational opportunity, literacy training, and various charitable causes. There were no “lines” for Lila; she easily bridged differences in race, ethnicity, religion and class. It was only natural for her to join the Jewish Community Center in Rochester as a Roman Catholic from Brooklyn! Lila resumed her career in Special Education in the Rochester City Schools, and went on to achieve her Master’s Degree from Nazareth College while working full-time. She was active in the Teachers’ Union, where she found friendship and support. Always over-extended, her motto became “Boring People Have Immaculate Houses.” Following her divorce in the late 1970’s, Lila met her second husband, Ezio, a dual Italian-American citizen. After many years together, they finally tied the knot on July 3, 1994. They enjoyed traveling through Europe and visiting family in Italy together, and became active in The Sons of Italy and the Italian Club. Family dinners were long, loud, and delicious, often capped by espresso and Sambuca. They were both especially close with grandchildren, Alex, Natasha and Nick, and played an integral part in their lives, attending their soccer games and teaching Natasha piano. Lila lost Ezio to cancer in July of 2023. Lila lived in the Kirklees Road homestead until her death. She remained an avid reader, and held her own playing Scrabble and Bananagrams. Her independent living was made possible by extraordinary home health aides, who became part of the family. Lila will be remembered for her loving heart, strong opinions, sharp intellect, and fabulous red sauce with meatballs (and not to forget her eggplant parmigiana). Lila is survived by her four children, Brian Balandis (Heidi), Valerie Balandis-Bick (Michael), Lorraine Balandis Dennison, and Stefanie Balandis (Paul), stepson, Ezio Bonanni, Jr. (Giselle), sister Claudia Verga, nine grandchildren, Alexander, Natasha, Nicholas, Brittany, Bradley, Ian, Skyler, Leonora and Alessandro and a new great grandson, Charlie, as well as nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed. Please join us for calling hours at Harloff Funeral Home in East Rochester from 4:30-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8 (with memories shared at 6:00 p.m.). Lila’s Funeral Mass will take place at the Church of St. Jerome in East Rochester, 207 Garfield Street at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 9. Friends and family are welcome for lunch at Lila’s home at 12:30 p.m. following her entombment at White Haven Memorial Park, 210 Marsh Road, Pittsford. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity, Catholic Charities or any other non-profit serving the homeless or needy, or a charity of your choice.