Obituary of Betty L. Bonawitz

Betty Louise Bonawitz of Cortland joined her husband, family, and friends in Heaven on Oct. 7, 2022. She was born in 1934 to Melvin and Mildred Hersom of Yakima, Washington. Betty met and married Duane D. Bonawitz while her family was stationed in LaRochelle, France and Duane served in the Army. When returning to the States, they moved to Arkansas and then settled in Cortland, NY to raise their family. Betty earned her GED, and held many supportive roles in the community. She babysat for family and friends, led Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and 4-H. She was a bus monitor, Sunday School teacher, and member of the Emerald Hose Co. Auxiliary and bowled in her Wed night League. Once Betty's children graduated from high school, she attended Tompkins Cortland Community College and proudly graduated as the oldest in her class, earning her Associates Degree in Secretarial Studies. Upon graduating, Betty found work with Dr. Cummin's Office. As her grandchildren were born, Betty "retired" and helped raise them. She was a natural. Everyone knew Betty by her infectious and gregarious giggle as well as her willingness to listen and help. If she wasn't home, you could find her passionately volunteering at the Cortland County Historical Society. Betty helped organize historical events, worked fundraisers, assisted with cataloging, and researched family lineage. Betty even enlisted some of her grandchildren in volunteer efforts while babysitting, teaching them to catalog and share her love for Cortland's history. Betty is survived by her four children - Susan (Jeffrey) Dovi, Sharon Holl, James Bonawitz, and Douglas (Diane) Bonawitz, her sister, Linda (Jerry) Mock, her much loved grandchildren - Sam Dovi, Emily (Michael) Quinlan, Rose (Michael) Marash, Kady (Matthew) Hunt, Tara (Adam) Paunwar, Eric (Mariah) Bonawitz and Adam Bonawitz and her cherished great-grandchildren - Micah and Wade Quinlan, Jackson Marash, Parker Hunt, Kylie and Cameron Paunwar and Kennedy Bonawitz. She excitedly awaited her next great-grandbaby due in March. Betty was predeceased by her husband Duane D. Bonawitz and her granddaughter Kayla Holl. A celebration of Betty's life is to be on Thursday, October 20, 2022 from 3-5, memorial service from 5 - 5:30 at the Wright-Beard Funeral Home of Cortland, NY. and a gathering of family and friends afterwards at the Cortland Elks Lodge, Groton Ave, Cortland. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Cortland County Historical Society or Hospice of Cortland.