Sister Agnes M. Bonville, RSM

Agnes Bonville, RSM (whose religious name was Mary Bonaventure John) a Sister
of Mercy for 76 years, died on February 19, 2025 at Catholic Memorial Home in
Fall River, Massachusetts. Agnes was born in Fort Fairfield, Maine, the daughter
of John T. and Mary (Mosher) Bonville. She was predeceased in death by her
parents, her sisters Louise Calden and Isabel Cousten, and her brothers Phillip and
Stanley Bonville and her cousin Ralph Bonville.
She is survived by her nephews David Bonville of Presque Isle, Maine and George
P. Hickey of Olympia, Washington; and nieces Bonnie Levesque of Farmington,
Maine; Linda Krysiak of Presque Isle, Maine; Mary Seeley of Fort Fairfield, Maine;
Kai Logan of Frederick, Maryland; and Carol Cousten of Mesa, Arizona. She is also
survived by her cousin Daniel Bonville of Porter, Maine and Sister Frances Thomas
RSM with whom she lived for many years.
Agnes entered the Sisters of Mercy in Portland, Maine on September 8, 1948. She
earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from St. Joseph College in Standish, Maine.
She taught elementary school in Maine for 19 years and still had connections with
some of her first-grade students.
In 1971 having acquired a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Aquinas
College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she transferred to the Sisters of Mercy in
Providence, Rhode Island. She was a Religious Education Director at St Philip
parish in Greenville, St. Joseph parish in Scituate and St. Joseph parish in
Cumberland. For 11 years she was a prison Chaplain at the Adult Correctional
Institution in Rhode Island and for 3 years at the Medium Correctional Institution
in Norfolk, Massachusetts.
Agnes’s motto chosen at profession was “As Mary would so would I” which she
lived by her presence and concern for the children she taught in elementary
school. In the prisons she was able to listen to and remind the inmates of God’s
love and forgiveness for each of us. Her time in religious education offered
opportunities not only for programs for students but also for adults seeking the
sacraments or wanting to deepen their knowledge and faith. Upon retirement she

said her mission was prayer and presence. Like Mary her life was centered in the
mission of Christ to let all people know God’s love and mercy.
The funeral will be held at Saint Aidan and Saint Patrick Church, 1460 Diamond
Hill Road, Cumberland, RI on Wednesday February 26 th , 2025. Visitation will begin
at 9:15 a.m. and a Mercy prayer service at 9:45 a.m. followed by a Mass of
Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Sisters of Mercy,
15 Highland View Road, Cumberland, RI 02864 would be appreciated. For
information and condolences, please visit: www.galloglyfuneralhome.com
Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery, 261 W. Wrentham Road, Cumberland, RI
immediately following the Liturgy.

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