Bonnie-Jean Clark Fetridge

Bonnie-Jean Fetridge Obituary

Fetridge, Bonnie-Jean Clark a civic volunteer, died on January 19 at the age of 93. The daughter of Sheldon and Bonnie (Carrington) Clark, she attended the Latin School of Chicago and graduated from the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY. She also attended Finch College in New York City. She was active in many civic and charitable organizations, including the Junior League of Chicago, Visiting Nurse Association of Chicago, Women's Board of Children's Memorial Hospital, the Women's Board of the USO of Chicago, the Colonial Dames of America and the Latin School of Chicago where she was a Vice President of the Parents Council and Vice President of the Alumni Association. During World War II, she drove an ambulance for the American Red Cross Motor Corps. Most of her time and efforts, however, were devoted to Scouting. Active as a youth, she was a troop leader in Barrington, IL, where she grew up, and in Chicago. She was a long time board member of the Girl Scouts of Chicago, Region VII of the GSA, and was a member of the Program Committee, Advisory Board and International Commissioner's Advisory Panel of the Girl Scouts, U.S.A. She was the founder and first president of the Olive Baden-Powell society, a major source of fund raising for the World Organization of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, London, UK, and was also active as Vice Chairman of the Friends of Our Cabana Committee, Cuernavaca, Mexico, and Chairman of the Juliette Low Friendship Committee. She was a recipient of the Julliette Low World Friendship medal from the Girl Scouts U.S.A., as well as being the first recipient of the Medal of Recognition from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. In addition to her Girl Scout activities, she was also a member of the Women's Service Board of the Chicago Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, a member of the National Exploring Committee of the BSA, and was a Baden Powell Fellow of the World Scout Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland. She was preceded in death by her husband William Harrison Fetridge, her brothers Sheldon Clark, Harry Clark and Carrington Clark, and is survived by her children; Blakely Fetridge Bundy (Harvey) and Clark Worthington Fetridge (Jean), six grandchildren; Hollister Bundy (Diane), Clark H. Bundy (Susan), Lowell B. Sichol (Adam), Reed F. Bundy (Kelly), Clark W. Fetridge II, William H. Fetridge; and eight great-grandchildren. She also is survived by her niece, Lindsay Stewart (Andrew), and her nephews, Carrington Clark (Linda) and Sheldon Clark. A memorial service will be held at St. Chrysostom's Church, 1424 N. Dearborn Parkway, Chicago, on Friday, January 23, at 4:00 p.m., 312-944-1083. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to The World Foundation for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Inc., c/o Sue Cunnold, 1898 Stapleton Court, Dunwoody, GA 30338. Info: Wenban Funeral Home, Lake Forest 847-234-0022 or www.wenbanfh.com

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Published by Chicago Sun-Times from Jan. 21 to Jan. 23, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Bonnie-Jean Fetridge

9 Entries

Stuart Pennington

February 8, 2009

Dear Blakely and Clark:
We just learned of your mother's passing, and add our thoughts to you both as well. Not too many years ago, we stopped by to have a visit with her. She touched many people over her life and has a warm place in my heart. You are fortunate to have had her as your mother. My thoughts are with you as well.

Gail Harinek

January 28, 2009

To the Fetridge Family,
I had the great pleasure of working with Bonnie-Jean and her husband William a number of years ago. To this day, I remember their perpetual graciousness. My sympathies on your great loss.

Ruth Dearborn (nee Schwerdtmann)

January 27, 2009

Dear Blakely and Clark:
So sorry to learn of your mother's death. She certainly was a most productive person and she touched many lives with her empathetic nature. She has definitely earned a special place in heaven.
My sister, Ilse Schwerdtmann, was a nanny to you when you were infants. My sister was much impressed with the Fetridge family and even named one of her sons
Clark.....May the memories of happy times carry you through these difficult times....
sincerely

Gregory Law

January 24, 2009

I have the honor of knowing Mrs. Fetridge's son Clark Fetridge. What a lady his mother must have been. Apparently raised in favorable circumstances she volunteered to drive an ambulance during WWII and gave much of her time and resources to the USO. As an active duty service member, I deeply appreciate her service and support.

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Pat Walenga

January 24, 2009

Dear Blakely, Clark and the entire Clark Fetridge Family,

Bonnie Jean was a great personal resource to me with the Girl Scouts of Chicago historical collection and archives. Not only did she most generously donate much of her World "Promise Pins" collection and other memorabilia to us when she moved to Lake Forest, but she could tell you where and when she got it all! Her 1936 Mariner Leader uniform is a treasured jewel in our collection.

When I visited her in Lake Forest she proudly showed me her GS/BS pictures, but none as proudly as the picture of the four of you, all in uniform. Blakely, you were in your Mariner blues. What a handsome family! Even though she was "matter-of-fact" about the European royalty pictures (while I was "wowwed" at her worldliness) the true "prize" picture in her mind was most certainly that beautiful family picture.

Bonnie Jean was generous with information also. She would answer my silly questions and fill in all the blanks, giving me new insight and perspective on our GS history.

In a true GS coincidence, I was repacking some of our collection for moving on Monday, and I just had my hands on Bonnie Jean's 1928 Girl Scout Handbook with all her personal notes in the front. Now I see that is when Bonnie Jean passed.

All of us, staff and volunteer alike, at the Girl Scouts of Chicago, (now known as the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana) were proud to award Bonnie Jean the GSUSA Thanks Badge ll in 2005.

What a treasure she truly was and what a loss to Scouting all over the world!

Our sincere sympathies to, and good wishes for your whole family.

Pat Walenga
Volunteer Historian/Archivist
GSGCNWI Council

Alex Wood Prince

January 24, 2009

Blakely and Clark:
I was so sorry to hear of your mother's passing. Clark and I have been friends for such a long time and your mother was a great mother. We did have fun with her but all in all she was beloved by all who knew her. With respect and kindness Woody (Alwx)

Donna Stender

January 23, 2009

Dear Wonderful Fetridge Family,
We too are sorry to lose such an accomplished and lovely woman. Clearly your Mother and Grandmother set a high standard for community giving and it is very clear to us that you are continuing that commitment! She certainly raised a lovely and loving family and it shines out from all of you all the time. Our deepest sympathy and love. The Stenders

Donna Stender

January 23, 2009

Dear Clark, Jean, Billy and Clark,
What an accomplished and lovely Mother and Grandmother you have. She set a very high standard of community involvement and we can already see how your lovely family carries that tradition forward. She was a blessing to your family and to everyone she touched. Love the Stenders

Sue Keyes

January 23, 2009

My thoughts and prayers are with you and all the family. Mrs. Fetridge was a wonderful person and I have fond memories of her.

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