The Ute Indian prayer asks mother Earth to teach us suffering, as old stones suffer with memory. To teach us freedom, as the eagle which soars in the sky; and to teach us renewal as the seed, which rises in the spring. Dr. Antonia (NarayanJot Kaur) D'Onofrio had taught us to have looked for the best in others and to have given the best of yourself. On Monday April 28, 2014, Dr. D'Onofrio had taught us acceptance, just as the leaves which die in the fall, when she had passed away at the age of 67, after a long battle at Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse in Philadelphia.
Dr. D'Onofrio was born in Philadelphia and had been a resident of Chester, where she near the campus of Widener University, for the past 36 years. She had completed her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Pennsylvania and received her Master of Education and Doctorate of Philosophy at Temple University.
Professor D'Onofrio had been a faculty member of Widener University since 1978 and had become a full time lecturer in 1980, a Senior Lecturer in 1982 and Assistant Professor in 1984. Dr. D'Onofrio was promoted to Associate Professor in 1989 and to Professor in 1999.
Dr. D'Onofrio had taught at all levels. Early in her career she had taught elementary school in the Philadelphia Public Schools and also at the higher education baccalaureate, Masters and Doctoral levels. She was a pioneer in the use of active-learning classroom techniques and web based instruction who had an area of expertise in educational psychology and educational research. Dr. D'Onofrio had been published and presented extensively in the areas of; de-institutionalization and rehabilitation of the intellectually disabled, dissertation supervision, art education, teacher evaluation and planning in higher education.
Dr. D'Onofrio had been a dedicated Widener Faculty Member and had received the Outstanding Teacher Award from the School of Human Service Professions in 1999 and was selected for the prestigious Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award in 2001. Dr. D'onofrio had been recognized by Empire in the "Who's Who of Women in education" in 2005-2006. She had held positions at Widener as the Faculty Chair, Director of Graduate Education and had been the acting Director of the Center of education. She was the Director of Evaluation Research and Coordinator of the doctoral program in Education and had served Widener on the Strategic Planning Committee, Academic Affairs, Budget and Planning Assessment, and the Grants and Awards Committees, among others.
"Toni" had held her faith dear and had been a contributing part of Sikhism where she was regarded as Reverend, well known as Narayanjot Kaur and had been a Super Administrator of
www.sikhphilosophy.net. "Toni" will be fondly remembered as extraordinarily talented who was a master of all pursuits. At home, she was an avid gardener and master chef and enjoyed studying the American southwest. She fluently spoke French, Italian, Punjabi, Latin and Spanish and had collected African masks. "Toni" had left the world better; she had appreciated Earth's beauty and not failed to express it.
Dr. D'Onofrio" is the daughter of Sarah & the late Armand D'onofrio. She is survived by her husband James de Geus and is the sister of Michael, Mark and Ann D'Onofrio.
Relatives, friends, colleagues and students are invited to join the D'Onofrio family to remember "Toni", celebrate life & renewal through faith and pay tribute to a daughter, wife, friend and inspiration to all on Friday morning between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm at Boyd-Horrox Life Celebration Home 200 W. Germantown Pike Norristown. The time honored tradition of reuniting those we love with nature will be held privately. To share loving memories please click the guestbook tab below. As an expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to
www.forgottencats.org
Life Celebration Script
Boyd - Horrox Life Celebration Home
Dennis C. McGee, Jr., CFSP
200 W. Germantown Pike
Norristown, PA 19401
Office: 610-277-7000
Fax: 610-277-0705
boydhorrox@lifecelebration.com
Add your thoughts, prayers or a condolence to Antonia's guestbook.
Life Celebration
Friday, May 02
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Boyd-Horrox Funeral Home
200 West Germantown Pike
Norristown, PA
