Darleen G. Bonislawski, a life-long Cambridge resident and advocate for social justice, died peacefully in her sleep after more than three years fighting ovarian cancer.

Darleen was a product of the Cambridge school system, a U. Mass-Boston graduate, and a proud
graduate of the New England School of Law. The first person to graduate from the Labor Studies program in 1982, she was also involved in the chamber maids union at Harvard.

She became an election commissioner in the city of Cambridge in 1988. At the time, she was the only candidate for any electoral process to be given an endorsement by the Cambridge Chronicle.

In 1995, at age 47, she passed the bar and began practicing law, living out a lifelong dream she had since she was a young girl growing up in Cambridge. She said of her own education as a youngster, "When I was in high school [in the 60s], it was very clear to me that kids were tracked. I was from East Cambridge, and I also lived part of my life in public housing, and I think there was an attitude of discrimination. It seemed to me there was an attitude toward kids from East Cambridge, the projects, and the Central Square area that just didn't bring out their abilities. I always knew I wanted to go to college and be a lawyer. I got a good education in high school, but I didn't get inspiration." (From All in the Same Boat: Twentieth-Century Stories of East Cambridge, by Sarah Boyer, copyright 2005 by Cambridge Historical Commission.)

Her passion for the law and due process was equaled by her goal of open and free elections. Along with these public passions she also loved vacationing in Rockport with her family. She loved champagne and sparkling wine and would always ask for a chilled champagne glass when dining out. Darleen was proud of graduating from law school and working as a lawyer and consequently being able to buy herself all the gold and diamond jewelry that she wanted. She enjoyed her diamonds.

She was also very proud of her Italian culture, and loved movies with Sophia Loren or Anna Magnani, opera and classic Italian music, and Italian food. Her cooking ability was legendary as she was known for making phenomenal ravioli, lasagna, and stuffed shells. Friends and relatives came from far distances just to learn how to make calzones like hers.

Darleen believed in and demonstrated a commitment to enfranchising others- polling place access, rent stabilization and protections in the form of rent control, union rights and representation, and quality representation for those finding themselves in need of legal services no matter their background. Much of her practice was pro bono. "Everyone deserves a legal defense," she would say. "Everyone is worth saving."

Committed to the idea of the inherent worth of every human being, she spent her life fighting for those unable to defend themselves. Politician A.K. Simpson said in 2001 "If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters." Whether counting ballots as a Cambridge election commissioner or arguing in court, it was Darleen's integrity that always came to the forefront.

Beloved wife of over 50 years to Michael Bonislawski of Cambridge. Devoted mother of Michael A. Bonislawski of Somerville, and Jennifer J. Bonislawski and her husband Artur Nergaryan of Watertown. Loving Grandmother of Leon B. Nergaryan. Dear Sister of Richard Gondola, and Donna Sullivan, both of Somerville, Jacqueline Juszkiewicz of Wilmington, Bruce Santangelo of Winchendon, Sharon Santangelo of Duxbury, Mark Santangelo of Saugus, John Gondola of Tewksbury, and the late Charles Gondola and Kim Santangelo.

Funeral from the Keefe Funeral Home, 2175 Mass Ave Cambridge, Friday at 9am, followed by a Funeral Mass celebrated in St. John the Evangelist Church, 2254 Mass Ave. Cambridge at 10am. Services will conclude with a burial in Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting Hours Thursday 4 thru 8 pm. Flowers can be delivered directly to the Funeral Home in Cambridge.