Bahá’í World/Volume 20/Mona Haenni de Bons
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MONA HAENNI DE BONS
1904—1991
Grieved learn passing dearly loved Mona Haenni de Bons. Her stalwart, distinguished services to the Cause of Baha’u’llah in Switzerland over so many years enrich annals Faith that land, constitute worthy continuation historic achievements her noble parents. Praying Holy Shrines progress her radiant soul Abhá Kingdom. Convey sympathies bereaved family. Universal House of Justice 5 May 1991
Mona Haenni de Bonsmborn on 20 April 1904 into a Bahá’í family—had the honour of being the first Bahá’í child in her community. Her parents were among the first Bahá’ís of Switzerland. Her mother, who had become a Bahá’í in Paris through her contact with May Bolles, was brought up in Paris, having a French mother and a North American father. Her father, a native of Sion in the Canton of Valais, had declared himself a Bahá’í after their marriage.
When Mona was two years old, her parents moved to Ramleh, Egypt, to live closer to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. They lived in Egypt until 1917. It was during that time that Mona met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and had the immense privilege of sitting on his lap. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá autographed a photograph for her, and the friends have many copies of it.
When Mona used to speak of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, one could see her Whole face become illumined and her whole being transformed as if, suddenly, another dimension were Vibrating Within her. Her love for ‘Abdu’l THE Bahá’í WORLD
Baha held no bounds. One could also feel it when Mona would say prayers with a particularly moving fervour. She knew how to transmit this love for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá with intense feeling to everyone she met and all who were suffering.
She would also express her love through her care for animals. Friends who Visited her will always remember the lost cats she gathered. In fact, she also cared for many a human “lost cat”.
Her faith was, in all Viewpoints, exceptional. One could feel her devotion when she gave talks or when she defended the Faith. She identified herself with the Bahá’í Faith to such a point that her whole being was wounded when the Faith was suffering. I shall never forget how she showed her solidarity with the suffering of the Bahá’í friends in I'm.
Mona had exceptional intelligence and could analyze situations that were difficult to understand. Her intuition was extreme and she could often read people’s thoughts. She was gifted with sound judgment and a particularly acute sense of justice: she often defended Victims. She also could become as enthusiastic as a child when the Faith was making progress. Fidelity was one of her most moving qualities. Indeed, Mona was, for all those who knew her, a deeply charming and very genuine friend.
Her love for the Canton of Valais was very keen, and she would express it in her singing and in wearing the costume of Lady of Sion with pride. We were able to proclaim the Faith through radio and television on many occasions, thanks to her, because she herself had sung many times on the radio.
However, her great sensitivity and her wish for fulfilment as a woman were not always understood in a sometimes insensitive and male chauvinistic environment. 1 often had the impression of a very great soul, and of an immense potential which could not readily find the necessary means of expression. There was a nobleness in Mona’s
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IN MEMORIAM 1011
Mona Haenni de Bons
personality, together with a revolutionary side which wanted to change what she saw as the “Establishment”.
Mona married Maurice Haenni, a chemist in Geneva, on 3 August 1925, and had one daughter, Ariane. One of Mona’s greatest joys was Ariane’s declaration of belief in Baha’u’llah. Together they made their first pilgrimage, in 1974.
Mona served on the National Spiritual Assembly of Italy and Switzerland in 1958, then on the National Spiritual Assembly of Switzerland in 1962—1963. While serving on the latter she had the immense privilege of attending the first International Convention in Haifa in 1963. She was among the first Auxiliary Board members of Switzerland and of part of France, and served as an Auxiliary Board member for Protection until she was in her early 708.
She was a member of the Archives Committee as early as 1955, then of the Translation Committee, and at last of the Committee ofPense'e bahd ’z'e, [Swiss Bahá’í Journal] where she served with great zeal and enthusiasm. For a few years, she was
also a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Geneva.
She moved to Sion, as a pioneer, in 1972 where she remained practically until the end of her life. She died on 2 May 1991.
BIJAN GHAZNAVI (Bigan G_haznavi) Translated from the French by Marie—Therese Levoy