Charlene Elizabeth "Chipper" Bonelli, age 73, of O'Fallon, beloved wife and mother, born January 9, 1950 in New York, N.Y., passed away after a brief illness on September 18, 2023 at Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.

Chipper grew up in New York until her family moved to New Jersey when she was 14. While working at Bradley's in Eatontown, N.J., she met a co-worker, Richard, who was a young airman in Air Force tech school. They met in May, and married on August 9, 1969. Chipper became a career Air Force wife and embraced the military adventure. She loved traveling and making new friends at each new duty station. She settled here in O'Fallon after her husband retired from Scott Air Force Base.

She was preceded in death by her parents Warren and Margaret "Peggy" Sonnick, and her brother Eddie.

In addition to her husband Richard, (Major, USAF, retired), Chipper is survived by her daughters Christina (Trevor) Harrison of Rolla, Mo., Mary (Brian Hogenson) Bonelli of Swansea, and Amanda (Phillip) Souser of O'Fallon; her five beloved grandchildren Logan and Alex Harrison, and Andrias "Andy," Finnley, and Liam Souser; siblings John, Barbara, Danny, Mary, and Tony.

Memorial donations may be made to The Catty Shack ( www.cattyshackil.org )

A memorial visitation will be held from 4-8 pm, Friday, September 29, 2023 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill.