Marilyn A Westlake

Marilyn A. Westlake, 70, attorney and mediator, passed away March 17, 2016, after a long battle with Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Marilyn was born and raised in Syracuse, the daughter of Edgar and Eleanor Mengarelli. She has been a resident of Locke, NY since 2006. Marilyn loved to spend time with her husband, Stephen - visiting wineries, wintering in Zephyrhills, Florida, and attending cooking classes. An especially favorite experience was playing Mrs. Claus to his Santa, arriving in Locke on a fire truck. Her role of mother to her children and later of grandmother, was her greatest joy in life. Children and grandchildren gave Marilyn the opportunity to go to nature centers, science museums, zoos, fairs and festivals, and to share her lifelong love of learning and carnival experiences with the next generation. Marilyn was the poll manager for the Town of Locke for several years. She co-chaired the Moravia, NY book club and organized book club participants in Florida. Girlfriends looked forward to receiving Marilyn’s emails inviting them to a “Girls Night Out” music or theater event. She enjoyed golf, Mah Jongg, and reading novels. Marilyn was a proud member and the Presiding Justice of Elk Lodge 2731 in Zephyrhills, FL. Marilyn graduated from Nottingham HS in 1963, and was a 1967 graduate of Syracuse University where she received a Masters degree in education in 1968. After graduating from New York Law School in 1979, Marilyn lived in Washington, DC, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia. Upon her return to the U. S., Marilyn began a legal career which included an appointment as Acting Justice for the Village of Fayetteville, Director of Career Services for Syracuse University College of Law, and Adjunct Professor of Family Mediation for SUNY Oswego. She volunteered for New Justice Services, Children 1st!, and Child Find of America. Marilyn was a member of the Onondaga, Cayuga, and Tompkins County Bar Associations, the CNY and Finger Lakes Women’s Bar Associations, and the Ithaca Area Collaborative Law Professionals. When Marilyn eased into semi-retirement, she began a telephone conference call divorce mediation practice, the first in the country. She continued her “mediation without walls” law practice up until her death. Marilyn is survived by her husband Stephen; her daughter, Eleanor Yeomans of Chicago; her stepdaughters, Jean Marie Spoto (Carmen) and Pamela Westlake of Syracuse; and her grandchildren, Gabriella and Stephen Spoto. Marilyn was predeceased by her son Michael Yeomans. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, March 22, at 10 am in St. Alphonsus Church, 85 E. Genesee St. Auburn. Burial will follow at Fort Hill Cemetery. Friends are invited to call on the family Monday, from 4-7 pm at White Chapel Funeral Home Inc. 197 South St., Auburn. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be sent to the The IBC Network Foundation, PO Box 908, Friendswood, TX 77546 (www.theibcnetwork.org)

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