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SALEM --- Cheryl Hundertmack Lanza-Kekel, 78, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at her home in Salem.
Cheryl was born Jan. 19, 1948, in Salem, to Herbert "Rex" and Mary Ruth Allen Hundertmarck, and graduated in 1966 from Salem High School, where she was active in the choir and band. She 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.; her brother-in-law, Lorin Shepard; and her nephew, Michael Shepard.
She was a lifelong member of The First Presbyterian Church of Salem, where she was active as an elder and a soprano in the Haviland Choir.
Cheryl is survived by her partner, loving husband of 29 years, and one of her oldest friends (since 7th grade), Gary Kekel, 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; sister, Marcia Shepard; and nephew, Christopher Shepard.
Cheryl had a diverse professional career during her life: she was a bank teller; a preschool aide; a retail merchandiser for McKesson Drugs; an aide to the deaf at Paul C. Bunn School in Youngstown (teaching herself American Sign Language and SAE); a church organist and choir director; a Tupperware and Mary Kay salesperson; a pie-maker for her sister's restaurant, The Ice Cream Parlor; a telemarketer; an office manager and an audio/video producer for Keynote Productions and Prodigal Media Co. She was also an 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 nightclubs, restaurants and at private events. She was often described as possessing "the voice of an angel.”
A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at The First Presbyterian Church of Salem.
Arrangements were handled by Stark Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
If so moved, your memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley, First Presbyterian Church of Salem Music Fund or Salem Alumni Association Class of 1966 Scholarship Fund.
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