Bonnie Lorraine (Sorensen) Hartley

Hartley, Bonnie Sorensen (Coulter)

November 3, 1950 ~ January 28, 2024

With her family at her side, Bonnie Sorensen (Coulter) Hartley passed on sooner than we’d hoped. Born in the golden age of the 50’s, she was raised by wonderful, caring parents Ella and Eric Sorensen in London, Ontario.

She lived a fulfilling life. She loved her teaching career, especially working with drama students. Her goal was to teach them critical thinking skills and empathy. She became part of a large artistic family in live theatre. She had the opportunity and means to travel. Bonnie’s leadership and contributions to the arts will live on at the Woodstock Little Theatre and the Woodstock Art Gallery. Her generous spirit and compassion for community organizations and major charities will be long remembered. The past six months have given her time to reflect on the many blessings in her life and to connect with friends to share wonderful stories of how they touched each other’s lives.

She leaves behind Her Jim, who has been her heartbeat for the last twenty-seven years and her ultimate caregiver for the last six months and her adventurous daughter Bronwyn Coulter (Ross Pedersen), who came from Australia to be with her and has been essential on this journey. She is thankful for her always supportive sister Ingrid Clark and her husband Jim, who has been a brother to her for over fifty years and their sons Jeremy (Rebecca) and Jordan (Sarah). She also leaves behind her Bonus kids: Jessica Hartley (Kyle Millar), Craig Hartley (Jenn) and the four special people for whom she is “Omi”, Noah and Seth Pedersen and Everly and Charlotte Hartley. She wishes them all happy, fulfilling lives.

Her family extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Regis and the Palliative Care team at Woodstock General Hospital for providing such kind and excellent care throughout her journey.

Family and Friends will be received at Brock & Visser Funeral Home, 845 Devonshire Ave, Woodstock (519-539-0004) for visitation on Friday, Feb. 2nd, 2024 from 7:00pm -9:00pm and a Celebration of Bonnie’s Life will be held in the funeral home chapel on Saturday, Feb. 3rd, 2024 at 1:00pm. A reception will follow. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made in Bonnie’s memory to the Baker Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, London Health Sciences.

“I hope death is like being carried to your bedroom when you were a child and fell asleep on the couch during a family party. I hope you can hear the laughter from the next room.”