DOB/DOD; February 3, 1912 (Saint-Philippe, Quebec, Canada) – November 8, 1991 (Norwalk, CT); 79 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Mavis Reed (1917-2002) on March 2, 1935, in Groveton, NH; divorced in 1941. Married Bertha Eleck (1912-2000) on August 4, 1945 in Norwalk, CT.
CHILDREN: Three sons, Philip R. (1936-2000), Michael H. (1936-2012), Philip J. (1939-). Two daughters, Barbara M. Bonenfant Scofield (1932-) and Judith A. (1944-).
LOCAL ADDRESS: 67 Cedar Crest Place, Norwalk
ENLISTMENT: August 25, 1943
SERVICE NUMBER: 31338286
UNIT: Infantry unit, but exact unit of assignment is unknown
FAMILY: Born to Olivier J. (1878-1951) and Marie L. Villiard Bonenfant (1878-1946). Seven sisters, Louisa Bonenfant Plante (1902-1968), Marie A. Bonenfant Godin (1903-1983), Aldea F. Bonenfant Morissette (1907-1966), Marie A. Bonenfant Berube (1908-2000), Lorette Bonenfant Motyka (1915-2003), Juliette B. Bonenfant Veilleux (1916-2002), and Mary Bonenfant Zysk (1921-1995). Three brothers, Theodore (1905-1981), Rosaire J. (1913-2004), and Leo (1924-2000).
CIRCUMSTANCES: German POW in Stalag 4B Muhlberg Sachsen 51-13.
From The Norwalk Hour January 9, 1945
Private First Class Philip A. Bonenfant, 33, son of Mr. and Mrs. Olivier J. Bonenfant of 3 Rowan Street, has been missing in action in Belgium since December 18, according to word received from the War Department by his parents. He went into the service about 18 months ago, training in Texas and Pennsylvania, among other places, before going overseas in September. The last letter received from him by his parents, a few weeks ago, was from Germany. Before he went into the service, he was with the East Norwalk Coal Company. He has one brother, also in the service, Leo L., stationed at a naval base in San Francisco, California. He also has two other brothers and seven sisters.
From The Norwalk Hour April 10, 1945
Private First Class Philip A. Bonenfant, 33, son of Mr. and Mrs. Olivier J. Bonenfant of 3 Rowan Street, is a prisoner of war in Germany according to recent word received by his parents. PFC Bonenfant was previously reported by the War Department as missing in action in Belgium since December 18.
From The Norwalk Hour November 9, 1991
NORWALK — Philip A. Bonenfant of East Norwalk died Friday in Norwalk Hospital. He was the husband of Margaret Eleck Bonenfant. Born in Canada on February 3, 1912, Mr. Bonenfant, son of the late Oliver and Mary Bonenfant, had been a resident of Norwalk for 55 years. Mr. Bonenfant was a retired buffer for Yankee Metal Products. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, Mr. Bonenfant was captured and held as a prisoner of war. He held life memberships in VFW Post No. 603, the Disabled American Veterans, and the American Ex-Prisoners of War. In addition to his wife, Mr. Bonenfant is survived by three
sons, Philip J. Bonenfant of Norwalk and Philip R. Ronenfant and Michael H. Bonenfant, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; two daughters, Judith A. Bonenfant of Naugatuck and Barbara M. Scofield of Waterbury; two brothers, Peter Bonenfant of Trumbull and Leo Bonenfant of Bennington, Vermont; four sisters, Marie Berube of Canada and Lorette Motyka and Mary Zysk, both of Norwalk; and Julie Belbux of Florida; 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grand-children and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Interment will take place in St. John Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Ave. The family requests that contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 5 Brook Street, Norwalk, 06851.
Buried in St. John’s Cemetery, 223 Richards Avenue, Norwalk, CT; unknown plot number.
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