Alice Bonifas Lee

Alice Bonifas Lee, 83, of Batavia passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Sunday, April 24, 2022 after a 6-month courageous battle against Pancreatic Cancer.  She was born October 8, 1938 in Aurora, IL.

Alice was born to her parents James and Cecilia (Millen) Hettinger 5 minutes before her younger twin sister Donna.  Throughout their lives, “The Hettinger twins” Alice and Donna were inseparable and spent their childhood as well as their adult lives in close proximity to each other.  The Hettinger family lived on Route 25 in North Aurora.  Their fondest memories include roller skating up Route 25 and playing in the rock quarry behind their house.  They were known to switch clothes in order to confuse their aunts.  Alice’s grade school class consisted of 8 students - 4 girls and 4 boys.  Alice and Donna attended Madonna High School in Aurora.  Both of the twins met their future husbands at Marmion Military Academy. 

In 1957, Alice married Robert Bonifas and settled on Mountain Street in Aurora.  Alice and Donna each had 5 children between 1958 and 1965 - each had 3 boys and 2 girls. They lived less than a mile apart, and all 10 kids attended St Joseph School in Aurora.  The kids were raised as 10 kids with 2 moms since the dads were always at work.  The 10 cousins fondly remember delivering telephone books throughout Aurora while their moms recorded the number of books delivered to each address to earn a little extra money.

 As Alice transitioned into being a grandmother, she would have sleepovers with her grandkids.  She was known as the donut fairy and her van would regularly pick up all of the kids to go hang out at Donna’s pool.  She was always willing to ‘taxi’ her grandkids wherever they needed to go.

Alice and Bob founded Alarm Detection Systems in Aurora in 1968.  Although they divorced in 1983, they remained close friends throughout her entire life.  Alice married Bob Lee in 1990 and they settled in Batavia until his death in 2020.

Alice is survived by her oldest sister, Celia Woodward, her twin sister Donna (Dave) Medernach and her brother in laws Ron Carpentier and  Gary (Debbie) Bonifas.  Alice is survived by her five loving children Steve (Kathy) Bonifas, Ed (Carmi) Bonifas, Dale Bonifas, Connie (Jeff) Busby, and Kimberly Keating.  Her twelve grandchildren include Claudia and Valerie Poehlmann;  Elizabeth (Kevin) Kawczynski;  Annie Bonifas;  Heather, Kristin, and Ryan Bonifas;  Brandon, Matthew (Sara),  and Steven Busby; and  Maggie and Kelly Keating.  She was so proud of her two great grandchildren Hannah and Nate Kawczynski.  In addition, she was looking forward to the birth of her second great grandson.  Alice counted the Medernachs as her second family: Darla Medernach, Diane (Dan) Petesch, Dan (Colleen) Medernach, and Don (Sandy) Medernach.  She leaves behind her dear friend and partner in crime, Janis Bonifas, 3 step children and many nieces and nephews.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, her brother-in-law Melvin “Woody” Woodard, her sister Mary Lou Carpentier, Grandson Michael Bonifas, Nephew Dennis Medernach,  and her second husband,  Bob Lee.

Visitation will begin with the rosary, and will be held 3:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., Thursday, April 28, 2022, at Moss Funeral Home, 209 South Batavia Avenue, Batavia, IL. 

Funeral services will begin with prayers at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, April 29, 2022, at the funeral home. Then the funeral will go in procession to the funeral mass that will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M., at Annunciation Catholic Church, 1820 Church Rd, Aurora, IL.  Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Aurora. 

The family wishes to express our appreciation to Alice’s caregiver Virginia Gureckaite and Hospice Nurse Natalie Cook.  Donations may be made in Alice’s name to Solace Hospice & Palliative Care, 650 E Devon Ave, Suite 188, Itasca, IL 60143.