Obituary of Bonnie P. Bonaccorsi

Bonnie Patricia Bonaccorsi (née Kirschbaum), born March 18th, 1956 to David and Hermine Kirschbaum (née Rolf) in Erie, Pennsylvania. Bonnie was the second daughter born to loving parents David, and Hermine. Although she was born stateside, Bonnie spent many of her formative years in her Mother's home country of Germany. She lived an Army brat life, regularly moving between states and countries, until returning to America for good by way of Pennsville, NJ in 1969. She spoke often of Germany's natural beauty, and of the many friends and family there that she kept throughout her life. A fluent speaker of Deutsch, Bonnie used that enigmatic language to talk to her Mother, and to her many close relatives. The men in her life never learned to decipher it, but always assumed those conversations were full of compliments about them. After settling in South Jersey, and graduating from Pennsville Memorial High School, Bonnie fell in love and married Gary Bonaccorsi, with whom she raised two wonderful children – Michael and Jeffrey. Bonnie gave her two boys an idyllic childhood, full of fond memories. In fact, she was the Mom to every kid growing up in Penn Beach in the late 80's and early 90's. The Bonaccorsi family back yard was part soccer field, part trampoline circus, and part playground. She would have it no other way. Bonnie's love for the outdoors was immense, and she often found ways of getting the family into one of her many favorite outdoor activities. She loved going for bike rides, kayak trips, and walks – never walking past a piece of trash without picking it up. Some of her favorite stories were about birds, weather, kayaking, and adventure. She had a green thumb, and spent many hours nurturing her beautiful plants and gardens. Hummingbird feeders were a constant presence in any residence she lived in. Her appreciation of nature was infectious. If Bonnie could be remembered for any one thing though, it was her volunteer work. She spent her entire life helping others. She provided assistance with Tender Loving Care of Salem Memorial Hospital, and worked the Suicide Prevention Hot Line in Gloucester County. She worked in two separate organizations to support her favorite local area, Fort Mott State Park. Bonnie even created and ran a support group, Strength in Unity, for survivors of opiate addiction. Towards the end of her life, Bonnie's focus was squarely on her ailing mother, Hermine. Diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, Hermine required near constant help and supervision. Bonnie decided to rent an apartment, and provide full time care for her mother entirely by herself. She made sure Hermine was in a comfortable, loving environment for the remainder of both of their days. She will forever be remembered by those who came to know her. Bonnie was predeceased by her father, David, her mother, Hermine, and her brother Robert. Surviving members of the family include her sister Susan Murray, ex-husband Gary, her two children Michael and Jeffrey, and her nephew Will Murray. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating your time to help the less fortunate, or support one of Bonnie's favorite organizations – the Visiting Nurses Association of Pennsville, the Fort Mott Park Association, and Red Oak Hospice of Bridgeton. Services will be private, and to be determined at a later date. www.laughreyfuneralhome.com