Gertrude (Annunziata) Bonagura

Gertrude “Trudy” Bonagura died at the age of 97 on July 28, 2022 in Green Brook, NJ. after a brief illness.

She grew up in the Bronx, NY, the youngest of five children of Rose and Salvatore Annunziata. Her father immigrated to the U.S. from Poggiomarino, Italy at the age of 14 and worked in Human Resources for various companies. Trudy attended grammar school at P.S. 34 and Christopher Columbus H.S. She graduated in 1943. Anne Bancroft was one of her classmates, both members of the photography club. In those days, people considered the Bronx like the country, and she had many fond memories of growing up there with her large, Italian family.

Her first job after high school was as a bookkeeper for National Carloading in New York City. She was responsible for keeping track of all the incoming receipts. In 1945 Trudy entered the Miss New York City beauty pageant and was first runner-up to Bess Myerson, who was also from the Bronx. Ms. Myerson went on to win the 1945 Miss America pageant.   

She married Michael Bonagura in 1946 after he returned home from military service with the U.S. Marine Corps, where he fought in the Southwestern Pacific. After their wedding they moved to Michael’s hometown of Belleville, NJ., where they started a family and raised three children. In the summer of 1961, the family moved to Green Brook, NJ and remained there for the next 60 years until her death. Later in life, after her youngest child left for college, she began a decade-long career at Lockheed in North Plainfield, NJ. After retiring from Lockheed, Trudy enjoyed being a poll worker in Somerset County, NJ and did so for more than 20 years.

Trudy was a warm-hearted and caring person—a great friend and a great listener. She loved to laugh and dance and always brought grace and beauty to any situation. She had a gift for turning almost any situation, however difficult or challenging, into something positive and life-affirming.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her siblings, Theresa DiGirolamo, Florence Rinaldi, Patrick Annunziata and Edward Annunziata and their spouses; her sisters-in-law, Hope Bonagura, Rose Martino, Edith Petillo, and Mary Tagliareni and their spouses; her brothers-in-law, Peter Bonagura, Anthony Bonagura and their spouses; and her beloved husband Michael J. Bonagura, who died in 1993. She was also predeceased by one nephew, Edward DiGirolamo. She is survived by her daughter, Laura Dowd and son-in-law, James Dowd of Athens, Georgia; her son, Michael Bonagura, Jr. and daughter-in-law Kathie Baillie Bonagura of Franklin, TN; and her son, Marc Bonagura of Green Brook, NJ. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Aimee Dowd, Christopher Dowd, Emily Hulse and her husband, Chris Hulse all of Athens, GA, and Alyssa Bonagura of Franklin, TN and one great granddaughter, Aria Jade Hulse, of Athens, GA as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and their children.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations can be made to Warrenbrook Senior Center, 500 Warrenbrook Road, Warren, NJ 07059. Please designate the donation for “Meals On Wheels.”

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