May 30, 1941 – November 5, 2024
Cecilia Bonilla Kornegay was born on May 30, 1941 in San José, Costa Rica. As a child, her family moved to Panama City, Panama where she finished her schooling and met the love of her life, James (Jim) Kornegay, Jr. at a local dance. After a short, whirlwind romance, Jim proposed and moved back to the United States for work. The pair married a year later after corresponding solely with handwritten letters. Cecilia and Jim lived in many places, including Bogotá, Columbia where she gave birth to their first child, James (Jimmy). She moved to the United States in 1961 and later gave birth to her second child, Diane. Cecilia and Jim eventually moved to the Dallas area in 1969 where she lived until she passed on November 5.
Cecilia quickly embraced being a Texan. She graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in Spanish Literature. She worked in various positions at Eastfield College in Mesquite where she advanced her lifelong love for art and music. She also worked at Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in Plano. Cecilia valued her lifelong friendships during her tenure at both companies. She was active in her parish communities at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Dallas, St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Garland, and St. Jude Catholic Church in Allen where she and Jim moved to be closer to two of their grandchildren. After her retirement from EDS, she found her passion substitute teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) children. However, Cecilia’s true passion were her four grandchildren. They were the light of her life during retirement. She enjoyed teaching them Spanish (correcting them on their purposefully misspoken Spanish), cooking with them in her kitchen (leaving out an ingredient in recipes so no one can cook as well as her), and, most of all, laughing. We will all miss that laugh and her joy for life every day. (Her grandchildren love her “muy mucho.”)
Cecilia was preceded in death by her parents, Fernando and Teresa Bonilla, her husband of 60 years James A. Kornegay Jr., her son James A. Kornegay, III, and her sisters, René Kramer and Elisa Kieswetter. She is survived by her daughter Diane Bounds (Brian) of Friendswood, her daughter-in-law Christine Kornegay of Allen, grandchildren Jonathan Bounds of Houston, Audrey Bounds of Austin, Ryan Kornegay of McKinney, Anthony Kornegay of Plano, sisters Teresita Montero of San José, Costa Rica, Nidia Mans of Panama City, Panama, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be held on December 5 at 10am at St. Jude Catholic Church in Allen, TX. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Catholic Church in Allen, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, or the charity of your choice.
In keeping with Cecilia’s joy of life, she requested bright-colored attire.
5 thoughts on “Cecilia Bonilla Kornegay”
Our deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers go out to the family and loved ones. May God comfort and hold you during this time of sorrow.
My most sincere condolences to all of Ceciliia’s family, she will be miss. May she rest in peace.
Our deepest condolences to the entire family. We will pray for strength to guide ya’ll through this very difficult time. May she rest in peace!
Farewell to my dear and close friend from Panama. She will be forever my good friend. Will miss her laughs and her good company. May God give her family the comfort and strength they need in these sad moments. Hasta luego querida amiga cuando nos encontremos de nuevo.
Sincerest condolences from both my sister Zofia and myself. Her beautiful smile and laughter will be very much missed. She always had such amazing energy, and always the consummate hostess. Prayers for comfort and strength to her beautiful family during this difficult time. And to Cecilia – may you rest in joyous peace in the arms of our Lord and Savior.