Edward Bona was born on April 1, 1925, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to Ida and Natale, who emigrated to the United States from the town of Postalesio in northern Italy. While his early home life wasn’t easy, he had a gift for quickly and warmly connecting with others, developed a strong work ethic, and grew into a man who gave his all to his wife, children, and community.
Ed’s family dealt with economic privation before and during the Great Depression and his parents divorced when he was about four years old, which was unusual at the time. By the time he was 14 years old, Ed had left school to help support his mother, himself, and his stepfather, Filippo Casella.
He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and served on the escort carrier USS Santee in the Atlantic and Pacific war zones. He fought in the Battle of Leyte Gulf-the largest naval battle in history-where his ship was both struck by kamikaze aircraft and torpedoed. Despite losing over fifty sailors, the ship continued in the fight before limping back to the U.S. As a result, all ship members earned the Silver Star for heroism. He received his Honorable Discharge in February of 1946. Ed was proud to have served his country. His time in the Navy also informed his lifetime appreciation of our wider world, and he avidly followed the news by reading daily newspapers and weekly news magazines.
After the war, Ed returned to work at Rice’s Silk Mill on Burbank Street in Pittsfield, where he met Phyllis Ditello. When they married in 1948, Ed happily became part of the large Ditello clan. He and Phyllis welcomed son David and daughter Darlene and built a custom house on Rhode Island Avenue, where he lived for 65 years. Throughout his life, he continued to strive for better for himself and his family. Ed studied for and completed his Second-Class Power Plant Engineer’s license and spent the final years of his career working as Power Plant Supervisor at General Electric -an impressive feat given his limited formal education. Ed passed to his children an unquestioning belief in the value of education. He was very proud when Darlene became a registered nurse and worked at Berkshire Medical Center and David completed his master’s degree and went to work “in the office” at large corporations.
Among his joys in life were fishing at Onota Lake, especially with his grandson Zach Seckler; exercising (and socializing) at the YMCA; being a member of Hope Church in Lenox in his later years; growing incredible tomatoes and other vegetables every summer; fixing just about anything; and spending time with his many friends in town, including cronies who for years played card games at S&J’s Luncheonette on Tyler Street. Ed adored all his grandchildren and spent as much time with them as possible.
Tragedy struck Ed and his wife in 2014 when their daughter, Darlene Seckler, died from pancreatic cancer. The strength of their marriage and faith comforted them in the years that followed, as did their extended family, especially David and Bonnie Ditello.
Ed remained engaged with people throughout his life. He and his wife entertained people in their home well into their nineties. Shortly before Phyllis’s death in January of 2022, Ed’s mobility had declined, so he moved to Hillcrest Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. He connected with other residents and staff members over card games, bingo, and conversations. Whenever Ed wheeled up and down the corridors, he greeted everyone with his warm smile and a handshake, told his famously entertaining stories, and brightened the days of his fellow residents.
Ed is survived by son David Bona and his wife Gail Nelson; son-in-law Patrick Seckler; grandchildren Zach, Rachel, and Jake Seckler and Danielle Cimino and her husband CJ; great-grandchildren Trent Seckler, Braden Cimino, and Everett Cimino; brothers-in-law Louis and wife Beverly, James Ditello, David Ditello and wife Bonnie; sister-in-law Carole Gale; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis, daughter Darlene Secker; four brothers-in-law, Tom, Vincent, Joseph, and Sam Ditello; sister-in-law, Nancy Ditello; and brother-in-law, Ken Gale.
FUNERAL NOTICE: A memorial service will be held at DERY FUNERAL HOME, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, on Wednesday, June 28, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Pittsfield Cemetery. Calling hours will precede the service at the funeral home from 10 to 11 a.m. In place of flowers, donations to support training for low-income, aspiring certified nursing assistants (CNAs) may be made to Berkshire County Regional Employment, 66 Allen Street, Pittsfield, MA 01202. Please put CNA: Edward Bona in the memo line of your check.
Published by The Berkshire Eagle on Jun. 24, 2023.