Bernadette Hunter, 68, teacher in two districts

Bernadette McLaughlin Hunter, 68, of Cherry Hill, a former teacher in Haddonfield and Philadelphia, died at home in her sleep on Friday, Jan. 16.

Born in Philadelphia, Mrs. Hunter graduated from Cardinal Dougherty High School in 1964, and earned a bachelor's degree at Gwynedd-Mercy College in 1968 and later a master's in education at Temple University.

She began teaching at Robert Morris Elementary School in Philadelphia after graduating from Gwynedd-Mercy and resigned from the School District when her son, Robert E. III, was born in 1977.

Mrs. Hunter resumed her teaching career at Haddonfield Friends School in 1984 and retired from there in 2003, her daughter, Beth Sobut, said.

She chose the Haddonfield school, Sobut said, "so she could be close to home and attend every class play, everything my brother and I ever did."

Then she returned to the Philadelphia system, taught at Penrose Elementary School, earned the Dr. Ruth Wright Hayre Award, and retired as a teacher at the Dr. Ethel Allen Elementary School in 2009.

Mrs. Hunter was president of the parent-teacher association at Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School in Haddonfield in the 1980s, her daughter said.

She then was president of the booster club at Haddonfield Memorial High School and president of the Erlton Swim Club, both in the 1990s, Sobut said.

John Wachter, a family friend, said Mrs. Hunter "was a tireless educator who always had her children and students first."

"A true friend, if you were lucky enough to know her," he said,

Besides her daughter and son, Mrs. Hunter is survived by her husband, Robert E. Jr.; a brother; a sister; and four grandchildren.

A visitation was set from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at Christ the King Church, 200 Windsor Ave., Haddonfield, with a Funeral Mass there at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 23.

Donations may be sent to www.takechargefoundation.org.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.kainmurphy.com.