Yolanda Schneider

Yolanda was born on July 22nd, 1930, to Gaetana and Andrea D’Adamo in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from Newtown High School in 1948, she worked for several years at a bank in Manhattan. She met her first husband Robert “Bob” Schneider at a dance in New York City, and they were later married on October 6th, 1956. Several years later they moved to Bethpage, New York and eventually started a family when adopting Mark, and then later, Susan. Spending her time as a homemaker first when her kids were younger, Yolanda later worked for many years as a customer service specialist at Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO). Yolanda and her family moved to Largo, Florida in March of 1981, and shortly thereafter she began working for the State of Florida Department of Health from which she retired after 10 years of service.

Later in life, after the passing of her first husband, she married Richard “Dick” Mericle in 2010 and together they travelled and enjoyed many special times together. Yolanda enjoyed visiting family and friends in the northeast in addition to her daughter and son-in-law in Maryland. Her cruise to Alaska with Susan and Rick was certainly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. She also made sure to see her granddaughters for birthdays, holidays, recitals, graduations, and other key events in their young lives. Very social and fun loving, Yolanda enjoyed her time at her last residence “The Palms of Largo” where she enjoyed socializing with her friends at nightly Pub meetings. At the ripe young age of 92 she embraced technology becoming a fixture in the game room playing WII bowling and using a virtual reality headset.

Yolanda was very family-focused, making sure to regularly call and check in with her immediate and extended family members. In her spare time, she was devoted to volunteering, spending many hours assisting at the Largo Library, manning the ice cream concession at Cypress Palms Assisted Living, and working at the resident candy store at the Sabal Palms Rehabilitation facility. She was also a long-time member of the Largo Woman’s Club and enjoyed their luncheons and events. She was a devoted Christian and an active member of Keene Terrace Baptist church in Largo. She also participated faithfully in online worship with at Suncreek United Methodist Church in Allen, Texas.

Yolanda was predeceased by her parents, her first husband, Bob, and 2nd husband, Dick. She is survived by her son Mark Schneider (Sandy), daughter Susan Durkee (Rick), her granddaughters Lauren and Avery Schneider, her brother Pasquale Carpentiere, and sister Andrea Bias. A visitation followed by a memorial service will be held Sunday, March 5th at 1pm at Serenity Gardens Funeral Home, 13401 Indian Rocks Road, Largo, FL 33774.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Yolanda’s honor can be made to Keene Terrace Baptist Church, 1901 McMullen Road, Largo, Florida 33771.