Dawn Marie McAteer Aug 18,1970-Aug 1, 2022

Daughter, Sister, Mother, Partner, Warrior Goddess, Artist and overall amazing woman!!

Dawn was born and raised in the Kensington section of Philadelphia to Dewey Hunkapiller and Ruth Bergmeister. She is survived by her life partner Tammy Leigh, daughter Ashley, second daughter Jamie, sisters Susan, Ruthie and Linda. “Uncle John” was a second father to Dawn. Cousins will and John.

Dawn was very artistic and crafty. As a child she was skilled at making butterfly pencils and selling them to make money. A budding entrepreneur she ran food at her father’s motorcycle clubhouse kitchen for tips. She also bought soft pretzels from the local pretzel bakery and with a loaded wagon of freshly baked pretzels and mustard she’d hawk her wares yelling “Hot Pretzels!!! Are you ready? Hot Pretzels”. She would brag that people would recognize her as the hot pretzel girl.

Dawn wore many hats to take care of Ashley; Waitress, Bill Collector, Limo Driver, Emergency Room Intake and Dawn planned to be a nurse. At 29 she was diagnosed with Medulla Blastoma. After her surgery and treatments the doctors told her to go home and die with your family. She did not!!! She Lived, Thrived and Loved!!!!

She was a huge music fan, loved sketching, baking and eating out at restaurants. She enjoyed traveling and living in Chicago and Salt Lake City on St. Vincent, Almond and Salmon streets and lastly back in New Jersey with Tammy. She deeply loved her daughter Ashley, her family, and her puppies Sheba, Athena and a late addition Misty. Dawn was a vibrant ray of sunshine and a blessing to everyone she loved, knew and even just met.

The family is having a private service. Anyone wishing to make a donation in Dawn’s honor can do so at Gilda’s Club: Gilda's Club Chicago (gildasclubchicago.org)

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/dawn-mcateer/obituary/

Copy