Obituary of Mary Feeney Bonawitz

Mary Feeney Bonawitz, of Orwigsburg passed away on Friday, December 25, 2020 surrounded by her loving family, at Geisinger St. Luke's, Orwigsburg. Born June 13, 1951 in Queens, NY, she was the daughter of the late Mary (Fitzgerald) and John Michael Feeney. She received both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Accounting from the State University of New York at Albany, and Doctor of Accounting from Florida International University – College of Business at Miami, FL. Mary was a certified public accountant licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, New York, and the US Virgin Islands. Mary was the first woman admitted to partnership with Brammer, Chasen and O'Connell in the US Virgin Islands. Besides her accounting career, she had almost nine years of consumer and commercial banking experience with Chase Manhattan Bank and Vermont National Bank . Mary was an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Wilkes University and an adjunct professor at Florida Institute of Technology Graduate Program and Indian River Community College. She served one year as editor of The Public Fund Digest, published by the International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management. She was an Assistant Professor of Accounting and Management at Penn State University, Schuylkill Campus. Mary has research published in refereed conference proceedings and journals and has presented at a number of conferences, most notably Oxford University's Roundtable. Mary served as 2011-2012 Chair of the ASWA Educational Foundation, 2002-2003 ASWA National President, the 1987-1989 AICPA Sub-committee for Professional Ethics, and Sole Practitioner's Committee of the Florida Institute of CPAs. She was also a member of the American Accounting Association, National Conference of CPA Practitioners, Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs, and AWSCPA. Currently, Mary was Bylaws Chair for the Philadelphia Chapter of AFWA and continued to serve as mentor to a small group of former students. Mary loved to travel, had a zest for life, and a love of all creatures; big and small. She was loved and cherished by all that knew her. Mary was predeceased by her husband, Irving, and brother, Matthew. She is survived by her stepsons, Dr. Steven (Cheri) Bonawitz and Douglas (Michiko) Bonawitz; her grandchildren whom she loved dearly: Eric Bonawitz, Kirsten Bonawitz, Alec Bonawitz, and Katherine Bonawitz; brothers: John Feeney Jr., Patrick (Tammy Sue) Feeney, and Kieran (Kelly) Feeney; sisters; Deirdre Feeney, Patricia (William) Cole, and Catherine (Stanley) Karboski; nieces: Shannon Oeser, Victoria Feeney, Shaunda Johnson, and Tara Feeney; and nephews: John Johnson and Jack Feeney. Last, but certainly not least her beloved cat, Doubloon. Due to COVID there will not be visitations. A private graveside service will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2021. Funeral Arrangements are by the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corners of Routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary's memory may be made to Mary Feeney Bonawitz Doctorial Fund, c/o The Foundation of AFWA, 2365 Harrodsburg Rd, Ste A325, Lexington, KY 40504, Hillside SPCA, 51 SPCA Road, P.O. Box 233 Pottsville, PA 17901, or The Nature Conservancy, Hauser Nature Center, P.O. Box 55, Long Pond Road, Long Pond PA 18334.