Obituary of Merilyn Yantch Panarisi

Mrs. Merilyn Yantch Panarisi, a lifelong Auburnian, passed away Saturday evening, July 2, 2016, at Auburn Community Hospital, surrounded by her devoted family. The daughter of Edward R. Yantch and Frances Rothery Yantch Post, Merilyn was a graduate of Auburn West High School and SUNY Morrisville. She had retired from nursing care at Auburn Community Hospital with 24 years of service. Previous employment included nursing at Mercy Hospital; Southern Baptist Hospital, New Orleans; and Newark Hospital, Newark, New York. Her kindness and generous spirit made for many friendships over the years. She was a member of St. Alphonsus Church, the Red Hat Society, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Rainbow Girls and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She always enjoyed keeping in touch with her school, club and church friends. During her retirement, she enjoyed traveling to Europe, Florida and most of all New Orleans. Merilyn was predeceased by her best friend and husband, Carmen Panarisi; a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Hill; her mother and stepfather, Frances and Allen Post; and her father, Edward Yantch. Surviving are her lovely and devoted daughters, Merilee and Rebecca Hill, Auburn; their father, Lee Hill, Auburn; a brother, David (Nancy) Yantch, Satellite Beach, Florida; many nieces, nephews including Nina and the Yantch family; two precious grandnieces, Lindsay (Frank) Walters, of Auburn and Nicolette Yantch, of North Carolina; great-great niece, nephew Luciani and Cayden Walters; an aunt, Violet R. Steele Hebert, Las Cruces, New Mexico; her half sisters and brother, Pam Casey, Trish Perkins and Ray Yantch; many cousins, especially Diane Kirkpatrick; many friends, caregivers; and devoted friend for many years, Carolyn Malec. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 7, in St. Alphonsus Church, Auburn. Interment will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Calling hours will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Farrell’s Funeral Service, Inc., 84 South St., Auburn. Memorials may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 5005 Campuswood Drive, East Syracuse, NY 13057. Her family wishes to thank the excellent staff, doctors at Auburn Community Hospital for the finest care given to Merilyn.