Rochelle Marie Merritt

Rochelle "Shelley" (Fanelly) Merritt, 72, of Goodyear, Arizona, by way of Toledo, Ohio, joined la sua famiglia on October 5th, 2023 surrounded by her loving family.

Shelley has left this world with an indelible legacy of service, friendship, joy, and heart. She found a way to try and love everyone. She had an innate ability to know when someone needed a kind word, an encouraging smile, or a true friend.

Shelley stormed into Toledo, Ohio full of fire, energy, and volume on January 9th, 1951 to a big Italian family. She attended Gesu Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Notre Dame Academy in 1969. She went on to graduate from St. Vincent's X-Ray Technician Program in 1971 and had a very successful career of service culminating as an Interventional Radiology Technician. She gave of herself, wholly and without reserve, for her entire life.

There were no people she enjoyed giving love, hugs, and that special smile to more than her children, her niece, and her grandchildren. Shelley will be immortalized by her five most cherished titles and by the people who uttered them: Mom, Ma, Mommy, Aunt, and most importantly Nonna. These special names were uttered time and again over the years and they never failed to bring happiness and light into Shelley's life. It didn't matter if they were shouted when begging for relief from tickles, whispered right before a kiss goodnight, or barely understandable through tears and sorrows...those simple words meant everything to her.

One of her favorite sayings was, "If I had known grandchildren were this much fun, I would have had them first." Shelley's joy in her life was made possible by her partner in crime, John. He is the foundation of the Family and was Shelley's rock throughout their awe-inspiring roller-coaster adventure of life. Shelley and John were blessed with 51 years of marriage, that may be the true miracle of her life.

Shelley truly embraced trying to bring joy and beauty into this world. She lived life to it's fullest, traveled the world, read insatiably, and ensured that no one was ever a stranger. She was the heart and soul of her home and her family. The most fitting display of Shelley's spirit was seen each holiday when everyone tried to guess who would show up for dinner and to determine just how many people she had added to the famiglia that year. There were no strangers in Shelley's life, just people she hadn't adopted yet.

Shelley and John were gifted many times and in many ways. They had two wonderful children, Jeremy and Amanda. They also shared a rare bond and devotion to their niece, Tiffany. Their greatest gifts were their nine grandchildren.

Shelley was led into heaven by her father Robert Fanelly, mother Mary Jane (Scarlato) Fanelly, sister Monica Fanelly, and father in-law Norm Kanderski. She will be watching over her husband John Merritt, son Jeremy Merritt and his wife Lacey, daughter Amanda Merritt and her husband

Kevin, niece Tiffany Brewer and her husband Dan, grandsons Zachary, Lincoln and Declan, granddaughters Graciella, Norah, Eleanor, Josie, Lauren and Jackie. Her mother in-law Fran Kanderski and sisters June (Randy) Krieger, Jeannette Merritt, Gina Rodriguez, Roberta Wodarski. As well as an abundance of amazing friends and family.

Shelley has longed for the comfort of her Ma's arms around her for more than 35 years. We all take some solace in knowing that she is now resting in that warm embrace.

There will not be a formal service at this time, but we do ask that you raise a glass and cheer a woman that loved without limit and would find any opportunity to celebrate life. At a later date, there will be a party in Toledo.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made toward Cystic Fibrosis research or The Tragedy assistance program for survivors (TAPS), two cause she held close to her heart.