Eris-Marie Bunnell

Eris-Marie Bunnell (née, Bronander), 96, passed away peacefully on December 4, 2024 at the Heath Village the Meadows in Hackettstown, NJ.

Eris was born on April 19,1928 in Glen Ridge, NJ to the late Wilhelm and Iris Bronander. She grew up in Montclair, NJ and spent many years in Danville, PA. She resided in Canada and Argentina, as well, and in recent years at Heath Village Retirement Community. A lifelong learner, Eris attended several colleges, starting at Upsala College and continuing to Bloomsburg University, where she earned a master’s degree in Art.

Her career included serving as treasurer of her family’s business, Scandia Manufacturing Company, and twenty years as a commercial art photographer. She produced many photo illustrations for books, a photo mural exhibit of the last around-the-world-voyage of a four-masted sailing ship for the Smithsonian Institute, as well as other mural exhibits at the Montcliar Art Museum, NJ, and South Street Seaport Museum, NYC.

Always full of energy, throughout her life Eris found endless ways of giving back. Notably, in1964, during the cold war, she invited figure skating champions from Eastern Blok countries to join Western champions at the “Funarama on Ice” fund raiser, starting what became an annual tour of world champions televised on ABC’s Wide World of Sports.

Eris loved fast cars, boats and airplanes, becoming a pilot and member of the 99’s Woman’s Pilot Club. She served as Commissioner of the Danville airport, where she oversaw the building of a new runway capable of servicing nearby Geisinger Clinic. Active in the Danville Kiwanis club, she led fund raising efforts for the Pediatric Heart unit at Geisinger Clinic and Ronald McDonald House, where over 150 families from Jamaica received care and housing during her tenure.

Eris is survived by her sons, Gabriel Aiello and his wife Karin of Columbia, NJ, and Peter Aiello of Edgewater FL, seven grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Richard Bunnell and 3 brothers, Wilhem “Bill” Bronander, Jack Bronander, and Franklin “Burt” Bronander.

All services will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eris-Marie’s Bunnell’s name to 1) the Friendship Fund at Heath Village, by mail or following this link https://www.heathvillage.com/friendship-fund.php, or 2) to the Employee Fund by check only. Mailing address - Heath Village, 430 Schooley’s Mountain Road, Hackettstown, NJ 07840

Arrangements have been entrusted to Maguire Memorial Home.