SHERBURNE – Dawn I. Merlino, 83, of Chapel St., Sherburne, formerly of Norwich, passed away Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 at the Chenango Memorial Hospital Residential Health Care Facility in Norwich.
She was born August 3, 1926 in Lebanon, a daughter of Floyd and Luella Alling Austin and was a graduate of Earlville High School. On May 14, 1946, Dawn married Joseph B. Merlino in Norwich. He predeceased her in 1974. Mrs. Merlino had worked at the Norwich Knitting Mill, Fishman’s 5 & 10, Woolworth’s and retired from the Norwich Shoe Co. She had also been a Senior Companion Volunteer at Broome Developmental Center (OMRDD) in Norwich for over 20 years.
Surviving are her children, daughter Jeanette and husband William Marston of Conowingo, Md.; Alice Merlino of Norwich and her dear friend John Diuro of Otselic; a brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Susanna Austin of Murray, Kent.; one granddaughter and two grandsons, one great-granddaughter and three great-grandsons; several nieces and nephews and her family at Broome Developmental Center. She was predeceased by her sisters Mary Meyers, Winifred Hartshorn, Margaret Boice and Ruth Coleman, and her brothers, Patrick and Floyd “Dutch” Austin.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday from the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne, followed by burial in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Norwich.
Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Friday from Noon until the time of the service.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Hospice of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815.
To send a condolence or sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.