Bonnie Lee Wacker Larocca-Crane

Bonnie LaRocca Crane (nee Wacker), whose passion was nursing and her children, passed away peacefully on May 22nd, 2024, at her home. Bonnie was 65 years old. Born in Poughkeepsie, NY, on May 22nd, 1959, she was the daughter of the late John “Jack” Wacker and Joan Wacker (nee Ollivett), who survives at home. She attended Hyde Park, NY, schools and was a resident of Poughkeepsie, NY, for more than 30 years. She moved to Florence, SC, in 2016. While at F.D. Roosevelt High School, she was active as a cheerleader and played clarinet in the band. During this time, she also attended Dutchess County Board of Cooperative Educational Services (Boces) and earned her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification in 1977. She then attended Dutchess Community College earning her associates degree in 1979 while working part time at the Hyde Park Nursing Home. Upon graduation, she began her career at Vassar Brothers Hospital, Poughkeepsie, NY, in the medical surgical unit and floated to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where was the charge nurse on the 3-11pm shift. In 1980, she worked on the Intravenous (IV) Team and was repeatedly commended by both doctors and patients. Bonnie briefly left Vassar Brothers Hospital and moved to Boston, MA, where she worked at Massachusetts General Hospital in the Neurological ICU. Upon returning to Vassar Brothers Hospital, she worked in the ICU until her retirement in 2011, earning her Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) instructor certifications. Bonnie is survived by her children, Anthony LaRocca, III (Tiffany), Poughkeepsie, NY, and Vanessa LaRocca (Deano), Pleasant Valley, NY. She had four granddaughters, Aniyah, Gia, Gemma, and Idahlia. She is survived by her mother Joan Wacker, Florence, SC, and brothers John Wacker (Tami), Hopewell Junction, NY, and James Wacker (Lisa), Florence, SC, as well as several niece and nephews and two beloved pets Max and Lorenzo. A service will be held on Saturday, June 15th, 2024, at Sweets Funeral Home in Hyde Park, NY, at 11:00am to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/) or the Tunnels to Towers Foundation (http://t2t.0rg/). Please sign the Guest Book for the family at www.stoudenmiredowling.com.