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1948-2026
SALEM – Cheryl (Hundertmack) Lanza-Kekel, 78 passed away peacefully Nov. 1, 2026 at her home in Salem, Ohio.
Cheryl was born Jan. 19, 1948 in Salem to Herbert (Rex) and Mary Ruth (Allen) Hundertmarck, and graduated from Salem High School in 1966, active in the choir and band, then attended Baldwin-Wallace University as a vocal performance major.
Besides her parents, Cheryl was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles Lanza Jr., brother-in-law Lorin Shepard, and her nephew, Michael Shepard. She was a lifelong member of The First Presbyterian Church of Salem, active as an elder, and a soprano in the Haviland Choir there.
Cheryl is survived by her partner and loving husband of 29 years, Gary Kekel, one of her oldest friends since seventh grade, whom she married in 1997; her daughters, Jennifer Lanza of Salem, and Carrie (Matthew) Schreffler of Poland; granddaughter Hannah Lanza-Roth; grandson Noah Schreffler; great-
granddaughter Elly Demsky; and sister Marcia Shepard and nephew, Christopher Shepard.
Cheryl had a diverse professional career during her life: bank teller, Pre-School aid, retail merchandiser for McKesson Drugs, aid to the deaf at Paul C. Bunn School in Youngstown (teaching herself American Sign Language and SAE), a church organist and choir director, Tupperware and Mary Kay salesperson, pie-maker for her sister's restaurant, The Ice Cream Parlor, telemarketer, office manager and audio/video producer for Keynote Productions and Prodigal Media Co., actress, and co-owner of Mainsail Music and Audio Production with her husband, Gary. She was admired by many for her wit, compassion, winning smile, and natural sense of humor and comedic timing. She always created beauty and a cozy, welcoming environment in all of her vintage homes, decorating with antiques and furniture she had a talent for refurbishing, courtesy of her self-described "auction addiction."
However, Cheryl will be most remembered for her natural and extraordinary singing ability which she exhibited at an early age, a talent that she always considered a gift, and loved sharing it in many ways: a soloist, in choirs, a vocalist in area jazz and popular music groups, on stage in regional musical theater productions, on numerous recordings and commercial jingles, and since 1985 with her husband, Gary, entertaining in area night clubs, restaurants, and private events. She was often described as possessing "the voice of an Angel."
A memorial service will be held at The First Presbyterian Church of Salem on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 at 1 p.m.
Arrangements are being handled by Stark Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
If so moved, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1st Presbyterian Church of Salem Music Fund, or Salem Alumni Association Class of 1966 Scholarship Fund.
11/4/26