Bonnie L. O'Brien of Newark, Ohio, age 88, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2025.

In preparation for this memorial, our family was asked to confirm several questions by the funeral director. State of birth: West Virginia; Parents: Walter and Violet Tully; The only question that gave us pause came when asked her occupation: Homemaker. "Homemaker" wasn't a strong enough word to describe Bonnie Lee O'Brien, matriarch of the O'Brien Clan, and forever and always Nana to Ian, Mackenzie and Cameron.

To know her was to love her, and how could you not? When you entered her unassuming home you might have been walking into a number of festive occasions: A Thanksgiving dinner that would be right out of a Norman Rockwell painting; A wild & raucous OSU vs. Michigan football party (Go Bucks!); A live band playing as Bonnie and her friends sang along; birthdays and get togethers and all other manner of life worth celebrating. Because with Bonnie, when it came to her family and friends, there was never an occasion too small that would keep her from celebrating.

In America, the average life expectancy is 78.4 years. Bonnie would go on to buck that expectation by 10 years, living to the age of 88. However, as a famous, fictional film archeologist once said, "it's not the years, it's the mileage." To that end, after the passing of her late husband, William "Bill" O'Brien in 1988, Bonnie made it her mission to seek out "a few more good years." These few more good years would essentially last the rest of her life, and would include finding a partner in another good man, William "Bill" Anders Jr., the births of her 3 grandchildren, the marriage of her daughter, dozens of trips and holiday get togethers, and countless other adventures. To be sure, the woman knew how to have a good time.

When we think of the home she made, we think of all the lives she touched. The goodness, laughter and, yes, love she brought into the world—the fruits of which are embodied and continue in her legacy: her children, (Jeff, Doug, Jill) her grandchildren, (Ian, Mackenzie, Cameron) and soon to be great grandchildren, (Baby Hartwell, arriving August 2025).

Bonnie was a firm believer that a house is just a house, but a home is made up of the people and love and memories you put in it. Bonnie O'Brien may have been just a "homemaker," ah, but what a home she made.

She is survived by her sons, Jeffrey O'Brien (Sherry) and Douglas O'Brien (Susan) of Newark, OH; Daughter Jill Hutchison (Jeff) of Medina, Ohio; grandchildren Ian O'Brien of Grandview, Ohio; Mackenzie Hartwell (Daniel) of Sunbury, Ohio; Cameron Hutchison of Medina, Ohio; Great grandchild Baby Hartwell arriving August 2025. She was also a mother and grandmother figure to many who were considered family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband William "Bill" O'Brien, and partner William "Bill" Anders.

A celebration of life will be held Thursday July 31st at Brucker & Kishler Funeral Home in Newark, Ohio between 1-3pm.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Central Ohio for the excellent care they provided. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to Hospice Of Central Ohio.