Marie Dana Donchetz

Marie Dana Victoria Mutarelli Donchetz of Bethlehem passed away on Feb. 14, 2008 at Holy Family Manor, Bethlehem. Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late Anthony Mutarelli and Vittoria Martucci Mutarelli and the wife of the late William Donchetz.

Marie was a graduate of Liberty High School class of 1942 and St. Luke's School of Nursing class of 1946. Following her graduation as a registered nurse, Marie completed a program in Operating Room Technique at Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia in 1949. From 1949 to 1953, Marie was an instructor in Operating Room Technique at St. Luke's Hospital and was responsible for setting up the first Recovery Room at St. Luke's in 1954. Marie became an instructor in Intravenous Therapy from 1969 - 1977. In 1977, she set up the Gastro-Intestinal Lab and worked in the Endoscopy Room at St. Luke's until her retirement in 1989.

Marie was an active member of St. Anne's Church in Bethlehem and served as president of SAWASA. She had been a member of the Hungarian Catholic Club. Marie remained active with St. Luke's Nurses Alumni Association and served as Chairman of Newsletters Publication and Bulletin. She concluded her tenure as chairman with the publication of a special edition, School of Nurses Alumni Association 1884 - 1984.

Surviving are her two daughters, Karen Schurtz of Fanwood, New Jersey and her husband Joseph Schurtz and Stephanie Vernace of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and her husband Dr. Joseph Vernace. She is the beloved grandmother to six granddaughters. She is also survived by her sister, Lucy Kail and brothers, Carmen and Louis Mutarelli. She is predeceased by her sister, Josephine Diehl.

Funeral services will begin with prayers at 10:00AM on Tuesday, 2/19/08 at Connell Funeral Home, Inc., 245 E. Broad St., Bethlehem, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30AM in St. Anne's Catholic Church. Visitation will be on Monday from 6:00PM - 8:00PM in the funeral home.

Burial will be in Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Luke's Alumni Association of the School of Nursing, 801 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, 18015, Grace Mansion of Holy Family Manor, 1308 Spring St. Bethlehem, PA18018 , or St. Anne's Church, 450 Washington Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18017.