Melinda S. Beyerlein

In Loving Memory of
Melinda Lu Shaner Beyerlein
1958 – 2017

Melinda Lu Shaner Beyerlein, daughter of the late David Stanley Shaner and Mary Jane Trickey Shaner, was born March 27, 1958 in Rochester, New York. She attended the public schools of the town of Greece, NY and was a graduate of Monroe Community College. She attended Bethany Presbyterian Church for the majority of her life. Here, she served faithfully in many roles including Sunday school teacher, Crib room director, VBS director, and faithful servant.

Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her daughter Rebecca Beyerlein Zacherl, son David Beyerlein, son in law Kenneth Zacherl, and granddaughter Mary Christine Zacherl. Her extended family includes Wilma Shaner, Christine Niven, Francesca Niven, Jillian Niven, Sheila Bailey, Lydia Birr Jayne, Warren Jayne, Barbara Elam, Ron Kaiser, Timothy Niven, Amanda Ciavarri, and Nancy Miller. Her life will also be celebrated by innumerable friends she has encountered through the years.

Before children, Melinda served as a secretary at the booming Kodak in Rochester, NY. After her children were older, she returned to work at a Gates-Chili elementary school, Washington Irving, as an office attendant. At the time of her death she had worked for over ten years at the Rochester Institute of Technology, most recently as a Senior Staff Assistant with the School of Communication.

Melinda or Mindy as many called her, would be described as considerate, compassionate, loving, kooky, patient, positive, generous, selfless, passionate, loyal, fun, gentle, flexible, and exemplified what it meant to live by Christ's love. Below is just a short list of the many, many memories she has left in our hearts:

● Great mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, niece, and friend
● Cherished her granddaughter Mary and adorned her with clothes that will likely last her through grade school; even waited over 36 hours in a hospital waiting room chair to meet her grandbaby after being born
● Faithful and dedicated daughter- with mother Mary Jane until her final days
● She was the most detailed-oriented, perfectionist when it came to decorating and wrapping presents and gift bags, and other projects; scissors were often necessary to break the perfectly hand tied bows
● Carried the tradition of baking an endless amount of ornate Christmas cookies in Grandma Shaner's small "step saver" kitchen
● Traveled the world and GREAT adventures - especially with family friends Lydia and Dorothy Birr
● Loved shopping with her mom for a good bargain. Recently discovered "boutiques" and thrift stores with close family friend and "sister" Nancy. Spent countless holiday hours for shopping sprees with nieces Frankie and Jillian
● Adored and spoiled her rescue cat, Luckie, and made sure to dress her for every holiday and occasion
● Revered by Hannelore Tydex and family; from studying abroad in Germany as a high school student. Reconnected in 2016 in Ft Lauderdale, FL
● Loved taking family and friends to and fro; anything from doctor appointments to Letchworth State Park. Drove endless hours for Becky's and David's childhood extracurricular and social lives
● Dedicated employee of RIT, as a senior staff assistant - organizing many successful events, and a warm, welcoming and reliable face for the staff and students
● Was the mother of so many other "children"; friends of David and Becky, student workers at RIT
● Cherished member of the self-established "pink hat society" from her days at Washington Irving Elementary School
● Active member at her childhood church, Bethany Presbyterian; co-directed Vacation Bible School, taught endless years of Sunday school, ran the crib room for nearly a decade. She later attended church with her daughter Becky, son in law Ken and granddaughter Mary
● Road tripped through 30 states in her last 5 years with David (cross country twice, and the southwest "four corner" states); hiked, pet camels, stayed in a yurt, drove dune buggies, rented moped scooters, hard rocked in Memphis, hit on by cowboy rock stars in Nashville, ate local foods, and modeled for countless portraits.
● Her family will never forget her sung renditions of "Flamey Mamie," "Weenie man," "Home on the Range" and "God Bless America" while on road trips, or sometimes out of the blue to cheer everyone up
● Enjoyed her newest car, "Fifi", with the pink steering wheel cover… which 15 years earlier mistook as a tube top souvenir from Hawaii
● Wrote weekly to friends near and far; whether deployed, elderly or abroad
● Beloved and embodied Christ's love to her last breath

A small funeral service occurred September 2017 for close friends and family. We welcome your continued prayers and strongly encourage you to share your favorite photos and memories of Melinda here: https://goo.gl/HLZmQT.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Porch (http://www.yfcdc.net, 202.459.3865), To Write Love On Her Arms (https://twloha.com/donate/, 321.499.3901), or a charity of your choice.