Marie A. (Yantz) Silvagnoli

Beloved kin and cherished friends, we gather today in heart and spirit to honor the homecoming of a radiant soul, Sister Marie Lavora Yantz Silvagnoli, who was affectionately known to us all as Marie. Born under the Manhattan summer sun on the twenty-fourth day of July in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred forty-seven, she commenced her heavenly journey on the twenty-eighth day of May, two thousand and twenty-five, in the peaceful town of Reading, Pennsylvania.

Sister Marie's life was a testament to the enduring spirit of love and wisdom, which she shared generously with all who crossed her path. She was blessed with a family that blossomed like a garden in springtime. Her legacy is carried on by her beloved sons, William Yantz and David Yantz, her faithful fiancé Danita Mealy (to William), and the joyful echoes of her grandchildren Anthony, Victoria, Ashley, Amanda, Angela, Tylor, and Amber. Nineteen great-grandchildren are the stars that now twinkle in the night sky, each reflecting a glimmer of Sister Marie's enduring light.

Though her formal education concluded with some college, it was in the school of life that Sister Marie truly excelled, imparting lessons of kindness and compassion through her work. She served with grace as an Accounts Receivable clerk at the Catholic Medical Center, and later brought joy to many as a Walmart Associate. Her involvement with her work community left an indelible mark of dedication and service.

Sister Marie's interests were as vibrant as her personality. She found solace in the soap operas that spun tales as intricate as life itself, and joy in the games she played on her phone or computer. The music of the fifties through the seventies was the soundtrack of her life, each note a memory, each melody a chapter of her story.

In her essence, Sister Marie was the epitome of friendliness, her loving nature a warm embrace to the weary, her wisdom a guiding light in times of uncertainty. As it is written, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." (1 Corinthians 13:4). Indeed, Sister Marie lived this scripture in every word, every deed, every loving gesture.

Today, as we bid farewell to Sister Marie, let us not dwell in the valley of sorrow, but rather climb the mountain of gratitude for having known such a remarkable soul. We rejoice in the knowledge that she now rests in the eternal peace of our Lord. May her memory continue to be a beacon of love and wisdom, guiding us through the trials of this world until we meet again in the glory of the next. Amen.

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