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08/30/2012 12:00 PMCheryl Mehalik Luyster, 62, of Old Saybrook, died peacefully at the Connecticut Hospice on Aug. 11. She was the wife of Frank Luyster. Cheryl had a happy childhood as a daughter of the late John and Anne (Gengerella) Mehalik in Midland, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism and relocated to New York to work in publishing. There, she worked as a textbook editor for McGraw-Hill, John Wiley, and Appleton-Lange, and was responsible for various business school and medical school textbooks.
In New York, Cheryl met her husband, Frank Luyster. They moved east to the Connecticut shoreline, first to Riverside, and then to Old Saybrook. In Old Saybrook, Cheryl worked as a realtor for William Raveis, selling waterfront properties. She also enjoyed cooking and helping others. Cheryl volunteered as a cook at the Grace Episcopal Shoreline Soup Kitchen, as a substitute teacher at Old Saybrook High School, and she volunteered at Old Saybrook's Acton Library.
Cheryl loved the shoreline and explored many parts of the east coast from Nova Scotia to the outer banks in North Carolina. She also travelled overseas, including trips to Italy and Argentina.
Besides her devoted husband, she is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, John T., Jr. and Helen Mehalik of Brighton Township, Pennsylvania. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews and their spouses and children, including Joncie and Bruce Donenfeld of Laguna Beach, California, Randy and Barbara Wain of Severna Park, Maryland, Jill Wain Meniatis of Roseville, California, Susan and Chris Gubish and John T. Mehalik III, all of Brighton Township, Pennsylvania, and Mary M. and Alfred Colaizzi of Baden, Pennsylvania, as well as Justin Mehalik, Chelsea and Marley Donenfeld, Katherine Gubish, Dalton and Dillon Wain, and Chase Meniatis. She was predeceased by her sister, Mary Ann Wain.
A graveside service will be held at on Aug. 31 at 12 noon in Beaver Cemetery, Beaver, Pennsylvania. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries at P.O. Box 804, Essex, CT 06426. The Swan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.