WILMINGTON — At 103 years young, Adele Danielle “Dani” Morgan Bonnescuelle de Lespinois passed away at her home on November 29, 2024 following a brief illness. She was born to John Pritchard Morgan and Marie Eugenia Huot Morgan in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 15, 1921. Like many from her era, she recalled memories of happy childhood days in spite of depression era circumstances.
Dani began working in public relations after graduating from Strayer Business College. When the Second World War began, she joined the Woman’s Land Army of America (WLAA) and was assigned to a farm in southern Florida where she worked in fields and orchards, and proudly operated tractors. As the war continued, Dani joined the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) branch of the United States Army where she served until being honorably discharged in 1945. Flying since age 14 she received her her pilot’s license while serving.
Desperate to be of service with the American Red Cross in post-war Europe but not being the required age of 25, she appealed to a family connection and obtained a post in Germany. She eventually was transferred to Paris where a friend “set her up” on a blind date with a dashing French pilot. Dani would say of the date, “He didn’t blink an eye when I ordered two steaks”. Their romance blossomed from that point and she and the Count Pierre Joseph Emmanuel Bonnescuelle de Lespinois were married in August 1946 at his family’s village of Les Cammazes. In 1950 on a trip to the United States to introduce their young daughter to Dani’s family, the couple decided to relocate here.
As Pierre began a career developing language schools for the United States Department of Defense, Dani was charged with becoming the consummate hostess of dinners and parties for a variety of government officials, military personnel, and foreign diplomats. She became adept at arranging the family moves to Clearwater, Florida, San Antonio, Texas, Washington, DC, Wrightsville Beach, NC, back to Washington, DC and finally Monterey, CA. They retired to Wilmington, NC in 1985.
Dani loved jazz, crossword puzzles, politics, and people. She was a superb conversationalist with an impeccable memory. Later in life she became particularly fond of Facebook, where she was able to keep up with friends and relatives throughout the US and France. Her postings frequently humored and delighted many, especially her grandchildren.
Dani was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 57 years, Pierre, and her sister, Wanda Morgan. She is survived by her three children, two of whom reside in Wilmington: daughter Joelle Bonnescuelle de Lespinois and grandson Christopher Record, and son Dennis Bonnescuelle de Lespinois (Catherine) and granddaughter Claire Bonnescuelle de Lespinois. Her son Pierre Bonnescuelle de Lespinois (Frances) and grandsons Jean Pierre Bonnescuelle de Lespinois (Misae) and newly born great grandson Kai Leon, and Kristian Bonnescuelle de Lespinois (Alicia) and great granddaughter Bradlee reside in California.
A celebration of Dani’s life will be held in the spring of 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Dani’s name to the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
