white female deaths from cancer

Former Quincy High athlete dies after two-year battle with brain cancer

Priscilla Bonica, a Quincy High School graduate and former captain of the girls’ basketball team, died Saturday after a two-year battle with brain cancer. Her father, Stephen Bonica, posted a short message to Facebook honoring his daughter and thanking supporters. Bonica was 20 years old.

“After more than two years battling a vicious cancer, Priscilla passed this afternoon – peacefully in her bed, surrounded by family and close friends,” his message reads. “She fought hard for so long like a kid from Hough’s Neck. She fought like a 'Nice Kid.' We are so proud of everything she has done for us and for so many over her short 20 years on this earth. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. We love you all.”

A three-sport athlete, Bonica graduated from Quincy High School in 2021 and had been recruited to play basketball at Westfield State University before her diagnosis. In May 2021, doctors at Boston Children’s Hospital diagnosed her with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, or HLH, after she sought medical attention for persistent headaches.

riscilla Beth Bonica’s soul was born into Eternal Life at home, surrounded by loved ones. She suffered a long fierce battle against cancer until being set free on June 17, 2023 at the age of 20. Rain peacefully fell to the earth that day, as if tears were descending from the eyes of heaven while angels filled her room awaiting an embrace from our dear Priscilla to safely escort her to her heavenly home.

Priscilla was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiform shortly after graduating from Quincy High School in 2021. This vicious disease slowly stripped away her physical being and childhood dreams but it could not touch her beautiful heart or destroy her spirit. She fought hard for so long, like a kid from Hough’s Neck. Priscilla silently endured her heavy cross with tremendous faith and profound grace until she took her last breath. Throughout her life and more so through her powerful endurance of suffering, she became an inspiration to all who came to witness her journey.

Zella was accepted, with scholarships, to Willamette University, a small liberal arts college in Salem, OR. She enjoyed touring the university and attended courses online while receiving treatment for cancer. Zella was socially and politically conscious and outspoken. She had a profound insight about the world and community and from a young age, taught those around her how to see the functions of our society through a perspective of compassion and empathy. She was a natural leader, who inspired people around her throughout her life.

After her diagnosis of Ewing's Sarcoma in June of 2021, Zella continued to inspire people with her persistence, grit, and gentle determination. By the time she had been properly diagnosed, the cancer had spread all over her body and had begun breaking the vertebra in her spine. Through unimaginable pain, Zella maintained a kind and grateful attitude, always thinking of those around her and working hard to ease her loved ones' suffering, despite her own. She maintained this integrity until her last breath.

In October 2020, during the pandemic, Sofia was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. For the next 2 ½ year, her courage, positive attitude, dedication, and warrior spirit enabled her to fight this disease with grace and hope. Whenever possible, she continued to live her life to the fullest, focusing on the joyful moments.

In the early morning of July 14th, 2023, Sofia passed away, surrounded by the presence, love, and support of her parents. In her short 18 years, Sofia demonstrated more patience, perseverance, and acceptance than many of us do in a lifetime. Sofia was truly a hero to us all and she will forever be missed, loved, and adored by all those whose lives she deeply touched.

Obituary

Laura Bethany Bealer, 21, of Walnutport, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 31, 2023 in her home, surrounded by her loving family after an extremely courageous second battle with cancer. Born in Allentown, she was the beloved daughter of Brian and Heather (Winders) Bealer. Laura was a graduate of Northampton High School, class of 2020, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, Volunteer Club, Spanish Club and Biology Club. She was a cheerleader for Rize Athletix for most of her youth. Laura was currently attending Penn State University where she was pursuing a degree in nursing to become a Pediatric Oncology Nurse. Her most recent place of employment was at Northampton Country Club where she was a server. She was a member of Hope Lutheran Church, Cherryville.

Tributes to Olivia Weatherford, the 9-year-old Cleveland girl who died on Tuesday, Sept. 12, after a brave 4 1/2-year battle with pediatric cancer, were posted on social media on Wednesday, mourning her loss and requesting prayers for her family.

As Olivia battles neuroblastoma, the community is going to Greenway Park to support a family in a challenging situation.

"She loves to be outside and she plays T-Ball, plays with her friends and she loves unicorns," said family friend Camill Howard.

A Facebook post from Olivia's parents explains how a tumor was found in her stomach and cancer in her bone marrow.

Those words struck a nerve with the Cleveland faithful.

n November of 2020 at the age of 13 Olivia experienced some light pain in her lower back. The pain came and went but in January 2021 it was bad enough for her to visit the GP. In early March of 2021 she was given an MRI of her spine where nothing was found. Her pain steadily got worse and in late April she was diagnosed with CRPS a mental illness where the pain isn't really there. Still the pain worsened and got so severe she would be taken screaming in pain to A&E and persistently being told there was nothing that could be done as the pain was in her head even though her symptoms were changing week on week.
Eventually after Olivia became virtually immobile another MRI was done, this time on her pelvis where a tennis ball size tumor was found. In early June 2021 Olivia was diagnosed with a rare agressive bone/soft tissue cancer, Ewing Sarcoma. She was admitted to hosptial and chemo was started within

Olivia Maunder
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Victoria Maunder is organizing this fundraiser.
For my beautiful little sister Olivia

In November of 2020 at the age of 13 Olivia experienced some light pain in her lower back. The pain came and went but in January 2021 it was bad enough for her to visit the GP. In early March of 2021 she was given an MRI of her spine where nothing was found. Her pain steadily got worse and in late April she was diagnosed with CRPS a mental illness where the pain isn't really there. Still the pain worsened and got so severe she would be taken screaming in pain to A&E and persistently being told there was nothing that could be done as the pain was in her head even though her symptoms were changing week on week.
Eventually after Olivia became virtually immobile another MRI was done, this time on her pelvis where a tennis ball size tumor was found. In early June 2021 Olivia was diagnosed with a rare agressive bone/soft tissue cancer, Ewing Sarcoma. She was admitted to hosptial and chemo was started within days. The cancer had spread to her lungs which made her chances of survival smaller. She spent 11 months in hospital. 14 rounds of chemo at Southampton hospital, 3 months of Proton Beam therapy in UCLH and an awful amount of pain and infections. She went through a tremendous amount of discomfort. After the 11 months were over, she rang the end of treatment bell at UCLH and was able to go home at the end of April 2022. Olivia has only had 6 months of remission. We're now in November and the cancer is back.
She has been told that there is no further treatment that will cure her of the cancer and all they can do with chemo is buy her months and possibly buy her no time at all. She is such a brave girl she has decided to not have any further treatment and try to enjoy the life she has left. She has been told that her time left can only be counted in months. We never thought we would be in this situation as Olivia has made so much progress, is back in school and living a near normal life.
Olivia really is an amazing girl but at her heart she is just a normal teenager, she loves gaming, watching Stranger Things, Anime and listening to whatever music She is into at the time.
I've made this page because we aren't a wealthy family and we would love to be able to give her as much as she wants to try to make the last few months of her life as happy as they can be and to enable the family to spend as much time as possible with her in her last month's.
Anything will be greatly appreciated.

She has shown nothing but strength and how to be brave. The world will be at such a loss without her.
Anything left over from Olivia's 'Dream fund' will be donated to charity, including
Younglivesvscancer.org.uk & abbysheroes.org.
Many Thanks, not just for supporting Olivia but even reading this and sharing her story...
Vickie X

Updates (2)
June 10th, 2023 by Victoria Maunder, Organizer
Hello all,
firstly I want to thank everyone for their beautiful words of love and support throughout this difficult time.

Olivia sadly passed away early hours of yesterday morning. we are all absolutely heart broken but she will never be forgotten and her smile will always cheer us up on the darkest days. She's at peace now and I hope wherever she is she's watching down on us all.