Marilyn Yahara, 85, of Lancaster, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, November 26, 2023, at the Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Dallas.

The beloved only daughter of John and Stella Kopacz, Marilyn grew up in Edwardsville, and later raised her family in Kingston, before retiring in Lancaster.

Marilyn was the devoted wife of the late Tom Yahara for 53 years and she proudly shared her husband’s passion for Penn State, where he had graduated. She was a loving mother to three daughters: Mae Yahara, the late Ann McGuire, and Joan E. Kuzma. She cherished her role as a grandmother and created “Grammie Camp” to spend quality time with her grandchildren, turning ordinary days into extraordinary adventures.

A dedicated member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Marilyn was a woman deeply grounded in her faith, finding solace in her spirituality.

Marilyn’s commitment extended to her involvement in TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), where she served as the TOPS President in Lancaster, reflecting her dedication to both health and community. She cherished leisurely walks with friends and had an ardent love for puzzles.

Marilyn held a special place in the hearts of her family, not only as the oldest living cousin of the Kopacz family but also as a matriarch whose love and warmth touched those around her.

Left to cherish her memory are her two daughters, Mae (son: Kyle Oetting-Yahara) and Joan E. (husband: Bill Kuzma; daughter: Alexis Kuzma-White and her husband, Vince White), as well as her late daughter Ann’s daughters, Rebecca Richter (husband: Carl Richter; daughter: Anja Richter) and Madeline Shertzer.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a memorial visitation which will be held on Saturday, December 09, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, with a Service of Remembrance to commence at 12:00 PM. There will be a second visitation on Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 9:30 to 10:00 AM at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 301 St. Thomas Road, Lancaster, with a Memorial Service to commence at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in the church’s Memorial Garden.

To share a message of condolence with Marilyn’s family, you may visit the funeral home’s website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com, or Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Marilyn’s memory to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Attn: Donor Services, PO Box 22324, New York, NY 10087, or by visiting www.lls.org/donate

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