Hilda Helene 'Sunny' Johnson Charboneau

Hilda Helene "Sunny" Johnson Charboneau was welcomed into her eternal home on Saturday, July 28, 2012. She now resides with her Lord and Savior and those she loved who went before her. Sunny was born Sept. 6, 1932, in Huntington, Ind., to the late Matilda (Vertin) and Wayne Johnson. She was the third of nine children, fours siblings who preceded her in death, Joe, Kate, Bobby and Rosemary. Sunny graduated from Huntington High School and St. Francis School of Nursing, Evanston, Ill. She served her God in a nursing career that spanned 40-plus years, ministering and caring in a variety of health care settings. She found her true calling late toward the end of her career as a psychiatric nurse working with those suffering from mental health and substance abuse illnesses, but her life renewed as a volunteer at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale, Ark. She served this wonderful, loving community for three years. Sunny was also a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Fayetteville and Saint Raphael Catholic Church in Springdale. Sunny was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend to all who were blessed to know her. Her greatest friends were Jesus and His beloved mother Mary. Her best friend on this Earth was her husband, Leo, whom she married on Oct. 12, 1957. Together they raised seven children. Leo preceded Sunny in death on April 22, 2004. Sunny is survived by her children, Kathy Zappia and her husband, Andy, of Raleigh, N.C., Mary Borkowski and her husband, William, "Toby" of Fayetteville, Ark., Leo Charboneau of Fayetteville, Ark., Suzanne Rizzo of Evergreen Park, Ill., Michelle Perawiti and her husband, Rick, of Springdale, Ark., Matt Charboneau and his wife, Jamie, of Fayetteville, Ark., and Margaret Ward and her husband, Josh, of Bentonville, Ark.; four brothers, Paul, Donnie, John and Jim Johnson; 19 grandchildren, Chris Zappia, Fran Shope, Nick Shope, Ross Borkowski, Sunny Charboneau, Joe Charboneau, Matthew Charboneau, Angela Gay and her husband, Matt, Sam Rizzo and his fiancée, Trista, Geno Rizzo, Phillip Rizzo, Mike Rizzo, Jennie Finn, Haley McCarver, Emma Perawiti, Macey Charboneau, Luke Charboneau, Damien Ward and Alex Ward. Sunny is also survived by a great-grandson, Tevin Charboneau; and a great-granddaughter due in November 2012. Rosary will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fayetteville, followed by a memorial mass at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mom, we love you so and look forward to our being together again with you and Dad in Heaven. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to: Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, AR 72762. To place an online tribute, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.