Merle Meola

Merle J. (Scrudato) Meola, 82, of Ulster Park, NY, passed away on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, NY.

A resident of Ulster Park for 30 years, Merle was born on January 23, 1940, in West Orange, NJ, daughter of the late Anthony Scrudato and Elsie (Patson) Scrudato and spent her childhood in Nutley and Point Pleasant, NJ. She graduated from Monmouth College in Long Branch, NJ. and worked for many years as a real estate agent for the John R. Baldwin Agency, Harrington Park, NJ, she later worked for Options Early Childhood Center as a preschool teacher and later became director.

Merle had a special fondness for gardening and enjoyed caring for the natural beauty of her property and home. She loved entertaining friends and family at her home and pool and was well known for making everyone feel special and warmly welcome. Merle also enjoyed going to plays, films, luncheons, garage sales, and other activities with her good friend Joan Light of Ulster Park and a wide circle of friends from the local area.

She is survived by her children, Dawn Meola of Saugerties NY, Scott Meola of Tappan NY, Leigh Meola and his wife Lauren of Northvale NJ, grandsons Mitchell and Derek as well as close family members Wendy and Alex Landolina of Pine Bush NY and their children Joseph and Courtney, Anthony and Brittany, Matt, Emily, and Ben. She will be sadly missed by her sister Virginia Duetsch of Vero Beach Florida, niece Christine Katilus, cousins, family members and friends. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her fiancé Jack Baldwin, brother Anthony John Scrudato, and nephew John Duetsch.

Arrangements are entrusted to Keyser Funeral Home, 216 Broadway, Port Ewen, NY 12466 where family and friends may visit on Saturday, April 2, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon with memorial service following at 12 noon. A tribute for Merle can be found at www.KeyserFuneralService.com, where you may leave memories and expressions of sympathy for her family.