1939
Sheryll
2025
Sheryll D. Townsend
January 21, 1939 — June 24, 2025
ILION - In Loving Memory - It is with great sadness that the family of Sheryll D.Townsend, announce her passing on June 24th, 2025, in Syracuse, New York, surrounded by her loved ones at the age of 86.
Born in Ilion, New York, on January 21st, 1939, Sheryll was the daughter of the late Kenneth and Mary (Brooker) O’Connell. She was raised and educated locally, having graduated from Ilion Central School.
Sheryll will be deeply missed for countless reasons. She led a life rooted in love, wisdom, and unwavering devotion to her family and community. A lover of nature, literature, and meaningful meals shared with others, Sheryll embodied warmth and presence in every aspect of her life. She was a fierce competitor when watching Jeopardy, and she held deep reverence for conversation and storytelling. She will especially be remembered as a tenacious spirit—resilient, courageous, and graceful—particularly in her final days.
She is survived by her three children and their spouses: Sandra and Robert Mersfelder, Deborah Townsend, and William and Teresa Townsend; her five grandchildren: Luke Mersfelder, Austin Mersfelder, Sarah Townsend, Brian Townsend, and Christopher Townsend; as well as her brother and sister, Robert O’Connell and Marjorie Foose.
On June 24th, Sheryll was reunited with her beloved husband, Richard Townsend—on his birthday. We imagine them together once again, sharing cake and peace in heaven. On July 25th, 1959, they were united in marriage at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Ilion, a blessed union of 45 years until the passing of her beloved husband on August 10th, 2004.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, June 28th, 2025, at 11:00 AM at The Applegate, Day & Enea Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Road in Ilion, New York, at which time a Funeral Home Prayer Service will be held. This service has been coordinated with Rev. Brian Engle of the Mohawk Reformed Church, and will be officiated by Elder Kenneth Palmer, whose church family were near and dear to Sheryll’s heart.
The interment service will follow at Armory Hill Cemetery in Ilion, New York.
A calling hour visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday morning, prior to the funeral services, from 9:30 AM until 11:00 AM. Family and friends are invited to the calling time and the funeral and cemetery services that follow.
It is the wish of the family that memorial contributions in loving memory of Sheryll be considered to either the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163, or to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 28 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10036. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home for these purposes.
www.give.michaeljfox.org
www.give.bcrf.org
Sheryll’s’s family wish to extend their sincerest appreciation to the nurses at University Hospital, Syracuse, for their kindness and professionalism extended during this difficult time. This compassionate care was a testament to Sheryll’s many professional years as a nurse and will never be forgotten.
Sheryll’s funeral arrangements have been carried through with her family friends at Enea, Ciaccia & Applegate Funeral Directors (315) 894-8000. Her obituary is available at the funeral home website by visiting www.eneafamily.com on the Internet.
Born in Ilion, New York, on January 21st, 1939, Sheryll was the daughter of the late Kenneth and Mary (Brooker) O’Connell. She was raised and educated locally, having graduated from Ilion Central School.
Sheryll will be deeply missed for countless reasons. She led a life rooted in love, wisdom, and unwavering devotion to her family and community. A lover of nature, literature, and meaningful meals shared with others, Sheryll embodied warmth and presence in every aspect of her life. She was a fierce competitor when watching Jeopardy, and she held deep reverence for conversation and storytelling. She will especially be remembered as a tenacious spirit—resilient, courageous, and graceful—particularly in her final days.
She is survived by her three children and their spouses: Sandra and Robert Mersfelder, Deborah Townsend, and William and Teresa Townsend; her five grandchildren: Luke Mersfelder, Austin Mersfelder, Sarah Townsend, Brian Townsend, and Christopher Townsend; as well as her brother and sister, Robert O’Connell and Marjorie Foose.
On June 24th, Sheryll was reunited with her beloved husband, Richard Townsend—on his birthday. We imagine them together once again, sharing cake and peace in heaven. On July 25th, 1959, they were united in marriage at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Ilion, a blessed union of 45 years until the passing of her beloved husband on August 10th, 2004.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, June 28th, 2025, at 11:00 AM at The Applegate, Day & Enea Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Road in Ilion, New York, at which time a Funeral Home Prayer Service will be held. This service has been coordinated with Rev. Brian Engle of the Mohawk Reformed Church, and will be officiated by Elder Kenneth Palmer, whose church family were near and dear to Sheryll’s heart.
The interment service will follow at Armory Hill Cemetery in Ilion, New York.
A calling hour visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday morning, prior to the funeral services, from 9:30 AM until 11:00 AM. Family and friends are invited to the calling time and the funeral and cemetery services that follow.
It is the wish of the family that memorial contributions in loving memory of Sheryll be considered to either the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163, or to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 28 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10036. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home for these purposes.
www.give.michaeljfox.org
www.give.bcrf.org
Sheryll’s’s family wish to extend their sincerest appreciation to the nurses at University Hospital, Syracuse, for their kindness and professionalism extended during this difficult time. This compassionate care was a testament to Sheryll’s many professional years as a nurse and will never be forgotten.
Sheryll’s funeral arrangements have been carried through with her family friends at Enea, Ciaccia & Applegate Funeral Directors (315) 894-8000. Her obituary is available at the funeral home website by visiting www.eneafamily.com on the Internet.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sheryll D. Townsend, please visit our flower store.
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