Marilyn T Santell

Our Marilyn passed from this good green earth in the early hours of February 28, 2026. She lived in Cleveland, Ohio for all of her 74 years. She was the beloved daughter of Nicholas and Rose Santell and dear sister of Thomas Santell, Linda Santell, and Joanne Pagel, aunt to Caren Pagel and sister-in-law to Douglas Pagel and Anthony Bachman. Our family is deeply sadden by her passing, but also grateful that she is no longer in pain and can now rest in peace.

If you knew Marilyn at all, you know she had a quick wit and the ability to generate sarcastic quips in abundance and at spitfire speed. She had a great sense of humor and kept us, her friends and co-workers laughing. Her unique style of humor was like a restorative tonic and what we will miss most about her. Of course we will also miss the array of Italian cookies and treats she would dutifully bake each year and share with us. She would package them up and send them in the mail. Sometimes they might arrive in several pieces, but even the crumbs were savored and enjoyed.

The biggest love of Marilyn’s life were her flowers. She would spend hours tending her plants and trimming her hedges just so. Somehow she found it in her heart to forgive the ravenous deer that would often make short work and a quick meal of her plants and flowers. Each year a new crop of fawns would find their way to her backyard. Although unruly and often destructive, she loved to watch the fawns frolicking. They were a living sign of Spring renewal.

Marilyn was a private person and did not want a public service. We are honoring her wishes and will plan a private memorial with family and close friends at a later date. We ask that you honor Marilyn by simply doing a kind act for someone in her name. In addition, planting a few flowers in her memory would be most welcome and appreciated. Marilyn was an extremely generous person. We know that she would ask, in lieu of flowers, to make a donation to the Disabled Veterans of America (DVA) in her name. Having had a father who was a WWII veteran and a mother who worked as a nurse at the Cleveland Veterans Administration Hospital, the DVA holds special meaning, because they serve those who served us.

We want to thank the Staff of UH Parma Hospital for their compassionate care of Marilyn in her last days and we want to express our deep gratitude to Marie Noar, her long time friend, for being at her bedside to comfort her in her final hours. She kept contact with us throughout the night and served as our link to Marilyn during her passing, for which we are deeply grateful.

Rest in peace dear Marilyn. We love you and must now let you go.