Mari Demaris Byron

Mari Demaris Byron, 55, of Waverly, died peacefully Monday night at Hospice of the Sacred Heart in Dunmore after a courageous and awe inspiring battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family, and many dear friends were close by. She was the wife of William J. Byron. They had been married for 34 years.

Born in Philadelphia, Mari was the daughter of Robert E. Farrell, M.D. and the late Demaris Ceccoli Farrell. Having lived in Sanford, FL, Sigonella, Sicily, and Swarthmore, PA, the Farrells settled in Waverly in 1970. Mari attended school within the Abington Heights District before graduating from Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut in 1979. She graduated from Colgate University in 1983.

Mari and Bill met during a semester she spent at the University of Scranton. They married July 30, 1983, and they welcomed their first child, Christina, in 1984. The three lived in Scranton before relocating to the Washington D.C. area. While Bill attained a degree in architecture, Mari worked for a friend's small business, Simply Accessories. They next moved to Philadelphia, where they lived with the Byron family and welcomed their second and third children, Billy in 1992 and Emily in 1994. In 1995, Mari brought her family home to Waverly. Having taken some time to raise her children, from 1999 until her death, Mari owned and operated the Waverly Deli, and through the Deli, she ran the town!

Mari was a beautiful, fun, and outgoing person. More than anything, she loved being with people, bringing them together, and making them laugh. She loved her family and her friends. She loved late nights, jeans, and awful T.V. shows. She loved helping people in her way and making them feel good about themselves. She will be missed by so many but forgotten by none.

On behalf of Mari and with bottomless appreciation, her family would like to thank her friends, her deli family, and the Community of Waverly for the support and love showered over the course of her illness. The family also wishes to express its most sincere gratitude to the staff at Hospice of the Sacred Heart as well as her caring and compassionate medical team, of which she was so proud: Dr. Lisa C. Thomas, M.D. and the staff of Hematology & Oncology Associates in Dunmore; Dr. Timothy J. Farrell, M.D. and his surgical team, including her dear friend Jeanne Cadman, CRNP; Dr. John S. Farrell, M.D.; Dr. Gregory Pierce, M.D.; the staff at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, especially the nurses on the 6 ^th and 8 ^th floors, including more dear friends, Barbara Jenkins and Anne Jenkins Cozzoli; Dr. Namrata Vijayvergia, M.D. of Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia; Dr. Stephen Jaditz, D.O.; Dr. Mary C. Santora, M.D.; Dr. Marta Byron, M.D.; Dr. Richard Weinberger, D.O.; Dr. Brian M. Rueter, D.O.; and her most doting and loving father, Dr. Robert E. Farrell, M.D.

Mari is also survived by her three children, Christina Maria and Emily Demaris, Waverly, and William J. Byron, III, South Lake Tahoe, CA; her brother, Robert Farrell and his wife Lisa, Dalton; her mother-in-law, Marta J.G. Byron, Philadelphia; the seven brothers and sisters she gained through marriage; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11:00 AM from the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home and Cremation Services 418 S. State St. Clarks Summit. Interment will follow in St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery in Eynon. The family will receive friends Friday from 4-8 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Waverly Community House at 1115 N Abington Rd, Waverly, PA 18471.