Bonnie Traiman

Bonnie Paula Traiman ביילא פנינה died April 8, 2025 after a brief illness.

In the 86 years before she got sick, Bonnie lived her life to the fullest. She read more books each year than many could read in a lifetime. She danced in her Zumba classes. She cruised across France on a river boat. She floated through the sky in hot air balloons.

Bonnie spent three decades treating some of the most vulnerable patients in New Jersey as a public health nurse. When she moved to Florida, she embarked on a new career at the St. Pete Beach Public Library — a job she loved so dearly that she never retired. For almost 24 years, she greeted visitors, kept them company, helped them use the computers and lugged their books from the outdoor book return. She was affectionately known around town as “the Library Lady.”

Bonnie was famous for her crunchy cookie brittle and scrumptious cornbread stuffing, her succinct phone calls and long-winded voicemails. She would arm wrestle you for the check at dinner. She liked to sign off her text messages with a smiley face and a clover, in honor of her St. Patrick’s Day birthday.

Bonnie was a tough cookie with an indelible spirit. She always pushed for what she wanted and fought for the underdog. And in her final moments, it seems she wanted not to give up, but to go on her own terms, and to let those who loved her live on. She will be deeply missed.

Bonnie is survived by her husband of 62 years, Stephen Traiman, and her daughters, Lori Abraham (Brian) and Jill Max (Aaron). Beloved grandchildren, Ethan and Brooke Abraham and Jake and Samantha Max. Dear sister-in-law, Susan Ferdinand, loving niece, Jaime Lewis (Sam) and nephew, Lee Ferdinand (Helen), sweet great nieces and her cousin, Eileen Grove. She was predeceased by her parents Leo and Bess Ferdinand, her sister, Sari Jane Ferdinand and brother, Michael Ferdinand.

A memorial service will be 11:30 AM Sunday, April 27, 2025 at Temple Beth-El, 400 Pasadena Avenue South with Rabbi Amy Morrison, officiating. CLICK HERE TO STREAM MEMORIAL SERVICE

Donations in her memory would be appreciated to Friends of the St. Pete Beach Library, 365 73rd Avenue, St. Pete Beach FL 33706 or Temple Beth-El.

Heritage Funeral Care, Largo Florida is serving the family.