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KATHLEEN SHEEDER BONANNO Obituary
KATHLEEN ANNE
Kathy was a woman of extreme generosity, heart and incomparable wit. Lover of puns, dogs, and the arts; unparalleled raconteur; gifted teacher; poet of grace and candor; tower of strength; and world-class free-spirit.
Relatives and friends are invited to Kathy's Memorial Service and reception immediately after on Saturday, July 22nd, at 1:00 P.M. at the Unitarian Society of Germantown, 6511 Lincoln Dr., Phila., PA 19119. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Leidy Sheeder Bonanno Scholarship Fund c/o Rachel Scheffler, Director of Development Reading Health Systems Development Foundation, P.O. Box 16052, Reading, PA 19612 or the Unitarian Society of Germantown.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for KATHLEEN SHEEDER BONANNO
ROBIN B SHAKELY
May 20, 2023
Today I lost a friend I never met
But I knew her.
We have common ground.
Before finding her and reaching out
I imagined the kinship we would have:
Her--ultra liberal, Unitarian Universalist
Me--uber conservative, evangelical Calvinist
Her--Klonopin weighted
Me--Wellbutrin lightened
Her--poetic and published
Me--striving and stalled
Our mutual friend Google told me of her death.
My hopes for a sisterhood of seasoned sorrow
Expire,
Like realizing my Mrs. Dash "use by" date is
Long past.
Like our daughters' deaths are
Long past.
But I remain.
How can I miss the sister I never met?
Dana Hall
December 18, 2021
Ms. Sheeder was one of my favorite teachers. She once wrote a lovely note on an essay I wrote in high school that ended with the quip, "but you don´t have even a passing acquaintance with the semicolon." It´s was true. I still think that´s so funny. Kathleen was such a great teacher. She is always on my mind. I wanted to become a better writer so badly and she was there for me. She allowed me to hand in papers early to get "free" feedback. Junior year she had the foresight to force us to write our college application essays early. She cared so much about us. She gave us so much of her time. Ms. Sheeder is burned in my memory because it was in her classroom that we learned about the attacks on 9/11. She asked us if we wanted to listen in on a radio she had and that´s how we heard the events of that day unfold. I attended Leidy´s funeral but I never sent Kathleen a card because I was scared to upset her and didn´t know what to say. I often wonder if I had done that could we have stayed in contact. She was a phenomenal woman.
Carole Ellerkamp
June 16, 2019
It's funny that I was just thinking of you and this popped up on my email. Rest in peace my friend xoxox
Roy Marshall
November 26, 2017
I just finished rereading Kathleen's Slamming Open the Door for only the second time in nearly a decade, so keen and powerful was the writing. I was surprised and saddened to learn about her recent passing. I wanted to write an email to Kathleen thanking her for her uncanny ability to read my mind and know my emotions exactly. My sister was murdered in 1984 and few people can understand what it is like to lose a loved one to a violent, tragic death. Kathleen understood this precisely and was able to write it in a way I am totally unable to express myself except to weep and sob once again as I turned each of her brilliant pages.
I am sad for your loss of this very special woman.
Diane Seuss
August 2, 2017
I taught Kathleen's book on a number of occasions to my undergraduate students. Its lean, honest, confrontational, loving poems moved them like no other. In one class, we even read the entire book out loud to each other. I never had the luck to meet Kathleen, but I felt I knew her--a part of her at least--via her poems. Just today, I suggested a woman poet whose child died read Slamming Open the Door. I came to the internet to find some poems to copy for her--and stumbled upon Kathleen's obituary. I want to express my condolences and my respect.
Carole Ellerkamp
July 17, 2017
My prayers go out to David, his and the Sheeder family. Kathy was a wonderful, caring individual. I will miss her!
Carole
Big Dave and Luis
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Leidy and Luis - soon after coming to the States
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Luis!
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
God daughter, Caitlin Rae
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
The Crucible, Mt. Penn High 1972?
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Double Trouble
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Erin and Jonah
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Kirsten and Erin
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Jessica
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Elise
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Gears
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Becky and Andrew Wedding
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Joey
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Brother Gears
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Beautiful Kat
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Hymn Sing May, 2017
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Hipsters
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Weird Vintage booth at Jersey Shore
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Vow Renewal with beloved Doris
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Amy Small McKinney
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
MS Foundation Gala with Car Car and Murfi and Liz
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
USG Women
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
English Department, CHS
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Deborah Wiley
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
2016 Birthday Party @ Painting With A Twist, Caitlin & Bern
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Angie
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
College years with Anita Horn
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Book Tour Barnes & Noble
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Gears, Dave & Kat Sheeder w/ Sandy the Dog
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Book Tour
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Levittown circa 1964
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Vow Renewal
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Kat & Suz
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Kat & Dave wedding 1983
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Cape May Antics
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
Suzanne Sheeder
June 22, 2017
June 22, 2017
May you all have the strenght you need at this time of sorrow, Phillipians 4:13.- Philadelphia.
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