Obituary of Merle Virginia Panaway

Merle Virginia Sartin Panaway peacefully passed away on June 10, 2015, at the Berwick Retirement Village. Born on July 27,1921, she was the last surviving member of the Edward and Mildred (Nelson) Sartin family. She was an only daughter and had four brothers Edward, Daniel, Sherman, and LaVerne all deceased. All her life, Merle lived in Laflin. She attended West Pittston High School and was a graduate of the Wilkes- Barre Practical Nursing Program. Merle was first widowed at the age of twenty-five in the year 1946. Married to Harry Baker and together they had two daughters. She married Raymond Panaway and was widowed in 1988. Together they had three daughters. The youngest Carolyn was a victim of Leukemia at the age of four. Merle's senior years were enjoyed with close friends and activities at the Charles T. Adams Senior Center and the Plains Senior Citizens Club. A favorite activity of her's was dancing with the Country Western Stompers and entertaining in the local nursing homes. She wrote articles and was the social news reporter for these organizations for many years. Another favorite pastime was travel and she visited much of Western Europe, Caribbean cruises , Alaskan tour, and many states throughout the lower forty eight states. A great pleasure was spending time with her daughter Mildred in Florida. Merle is survived by her four daughters Mildred Baller, Port Orange, Fl; Rita Mae Lipinski, Wilkes-Barre; Rosemary Sechevich, Wapwallopen; Gloria Jean Sigmann, WI. The family appreciates and thanks the many friends who provided transportation to her senior activities and for the kindness and support of her neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. George Berecin. Merle was a life long member of the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Wilkes-Barre. Merle's Funeral will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2015 at 10:00am from the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc.,55 Stark Street, Plains Twp. Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am in St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 35 S. Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre. Interment will follow in Memorial Shrine Burial Park, Wyoming. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 35 South Franklin St.,Wilkes-Barre, Pa, 18702, or to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place,Memphis, Tn, 38105.