Bonnie Jean Swackhamer, 77, of Erie, formerly of Bradford, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, after fighting a 12 year battle with cancer, on Monday June 7, 2021, at UPMC Hamot.
Born January 20, 1944, in Bradford, she was a daughter of the late Calvin E. and Norma Jean (Warner) Swackhamer.
Bonnie was a 1961 graduate of Bradford High School and was affectionately known to her friends as “BJ”.
She was formerly employed at McCourt Label Company and as an accountant at Lord's Manufacturing Company in Erie.
She enjoyed fishing, golf, joining her friends at the Breakfast Club. She was an avid Cleveland Indians fan. She was one of the first members of the Thursday Night Women’s Bowling League, and a former member of the Keystone Cops Women’s Softball Team, both in Bradford.
Bonnie is survived by her life companion, Donna Palmer of Erie, three sisters, Pam (Dan) Reinhardt, of Bradford, Deborah Coatsworth Tingley, of Bradford, Sandra (the late Rex) Palace, of Twin Lakes WI, three brothers, Bradley (Cindy) Swackhamer, of Bradford, Scott Swackhamer, of Bradford, Rodney (Ricky Cheney) Swackhamer, of Jamestown, NY, one sister in law Mickey Swackhamer, of Bradford, 12 nieces and nephews, Sonia Brecht, Barbara Delozier, Amy Raught, Lisa Fedak, Nicole Ricketts,Todd Coatsworth, Danielle Wilcox, Alexander Swackhamer, Matt, Joe, Steven, and David Reinhardt, 15 great nieces and nephews: Dominic Coatsworth, Danny and Bailey Fedak, Kaitlin and Calley Jean Raught, Emily and Kristin Brecht, Luc and Jenna Delozier, Autumn, Brenna and Nolan Ricketts, Shane and Bryce Reinhardt, Alex Reinhardt, and two aunts, and several cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Daniel Joseph Swackhamer.
Friends will be received on Saturday June 26, 2021, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am in St. Bernard Church, at 11:00 am a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Fr Jim Gutting, Senior Associate. Burial will be in St. Bernard Cemetery.
For those not able to attend in person, this service will be live streamed, at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8VgTPP95_ZLd0Ogh3h_Wrg at 11:00 am
Memorial contributions if desired may be made to the American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association, Roary’s Refuge Cat Rescue, or any animal shelter of your choice. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com