Tom Bellestri, Ray and Barb Bonkoski feted by Erie Knights of Columbus

ERIE – Tom Bellestri of Erie was named Knight of the Month and Ray and Barb Bonkoski of LaSalle were named Family of the Month by St. Joseph Council 7413, Knights of Columbus.

The awards were announced by Grand Knight Ben Roelant at a council meeting earlier this month.

Bellestri, 71, has served as grand knight twice and attends the monthly meetings. Both he and his wife of 40 years, Yvonne, help with the weekly bingo nights held on Thursdays at the Monroe Knights of Columbus hall. The Bellestris were married May 6, 1983, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Erie, by the Rev. Joe Plawecki. Both are active members of the parish and have two children – Angela (Paul) Kiszka of Perrysburg, Ohio, and Christopher (Jamie) of Erie – and four grandchildren. Bellestri also serves as an usher and Eucharistic minister for the parish.

Yvonne is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Knights and assists with the food concession and counting tickets at bingo. She also is a Scripture reader, lector and Eucharistic minister for the parish, is involved with the Rosary prayer group and adoration hour at the church and assists in the parish office. She also chaired the annual parish picnic held last month. At the picnic, her husband served as a cook to grill hamburgers and hot dogs along with Tad Norts, a past grand knight, and Ray Bonkoski while the K of C ladies served the food.

Ray and the former Barb Devos of Erie have been married 38 years. The couple was married in June 1985 at St. Joseph by the Rev. Robert Haener and are lifelong members. They both assisted with the parish Labor Day Festivals in the past. Ray has been a member of the Knights for 43 years and serves as vice president of the K of C’s Phase 4 Building Association. He also has assisted with the council’s building repairs, scrap metal drive and bingo. Barb has been a member of the auxiliary for three years.

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The couple have four grown children – Phillip (Tiffany), Anthony, Joseph and Jonathan – and a 3-week-old grandchild.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Tom Bellestri, Ray and Barb Bonkoski feted by Erie Knights of Columbus