Bonnie Marie Oria, 72 years of age, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2025.

Born Bonnie Marie Schmidt on May 14, 1952, to Marcella (Ford) and Virgil Schmidt in Beatrice, NE.  She grew up on the family farm near Odell, NE.  She graduated from Odell High School in 1972.  Upon graduation from high school, she embarked upon a 42-year career at the Beatrice State Developmental Center. She retired in June of 2014.

She married her soulmate and husband of 42 years Joseph “Joe” Oria on April 21, 1979 and was the mother of their three daughters Elisa Marie, Angelita Marie, and Kristina Maria. The family expanded further with the arrival of her grandsons Caleb Joseph and Logan Dean and the adoption of family pets Willie, Sunny, Thor and new puppy Rocky. 

Bonnie enjoyed spending time cooking, especially trying new recipes; being outdoors, including drinking coffee on the back deck in the mornings or spending her days tending to her vegetable and flower gardens; spoiling her grandsons rotten; golfing at the Wymore Country Club with friends, family gatherings at Harlan County Lake and traveling around with Joe and his bands Southern Cross and The Silver Dollar Band.

Bonnie is survived by her daughters Elisa Oria (significant other Ryan Austin), Angelita Oria, and Kristina Oria, grandsons Caleb and Logan Dovenbarger, brother Lamar Schmidt (spouse Verneta), sisters Carol Stern (spouse Layton) and Joyce Leppink (spouse Allen), brother-in-law Braulio Oria (spouse Mary Jane), sister-in-law Maria Oria, dogs Willie, Sunny, Thor and Rocky, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and two great-great nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Oria, father Virgil Schmidt, mother Marcella Schmidt (Ford), sister Marilyn Coker (Schmidt) father-in-law Braulio Oria Bolivar, mother-in-law Agapita Pellon de Oria, brother-in-law Luis Oria, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

Mass of Christian Burial services will be held on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 612 High St in Beatrice, NE at 11:00 AM. Reception afterwards will be held at the American Legion, 701 Dorsey St in Beatrice. The service will also be Livestreamed on the funeral home Facebook page. The body will lie in state from 10 AM -8:00 PM Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice with the family greeting friends from 6-7:30 PM and Wednesday at the church one hour preceding the services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the family's choice for future designation with the funeral home in charge.

As we remember Bonnie, we invite you to share your memories and upload photos, watch her video tribute and service on her memorial page at www.ghchapel.com. Your stories and images will serve as a comforting reminder of the love she had for all who knew her.

 These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.