Meryl Carolyn Chapin, active in community

Meryl Carolyn Chapin, 90, passed peacefully Sunday, June 30, 2024, at The Moorings at Lewes. She was born Jan. 13, 1934, in St. Louis, Mo., daughter of August and Clara Schmidt.

She attended Webster Groves High School, where she was valedictorian of her senior class.  Meryl was involved in student council, cheerleading, musicals, school newspaper, and field hockey. Then, she attended Washington University in St. Louis. Among the honors she received were president of the Mortar Board, Phi Beta Kappa selection and secretary of Kappa Alpha Theta. Meryl met her husband, Jack Chapin, while they were at Camp Miniwanca and were married Dec. 23, 1951.

Meryl was actively involved in the communities in which she lived, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Women’s Association, Evanston Hospital board member, New Trier High School Parents Association and Winnetka Presbyterian Church. She was also a member of Lewes Presbyterian Church and Rehoboth Beach Country Club.

Meryl is survived by her daughters, Carolyn Chapin (Peter) Strandberg and Sharon Chapin (Bill) Crist; and grandchildren Taylor Crist (Rimantas) Valavicius, Jack Strandberg, Will Crist and Alison Chapin Strandberg (Sean Lipski).

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, July 22, at The Moorings at Lewes, 17028 Cadbury Circle, Lewes.

Anyone unable to attend the services may view the livestream at parsellfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Atkinson-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Carolyn Chapin Strandberg may be made to Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, P.O. Box 32141, New York, NY, 10087-2141, ocrahope.org.  

Visit Meryl’s Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.