NEW HARTFORD - Christina (Merritt) Van Tassell, 84, of New Hartford, NY, passed away with her family at her side at the Hospice Siegenthaler Center after a long illness on April 8, 2007. Until a few weeks ago she had resided with her daughter, Roberta and her husband, David O'Shaughnessy at their home in New Hartford. She was born February 9, 1923 in Mt. Kisco, NY, daughter of John and Christina Kearns Merritt. Christina was educated at St. Francis of Assisi in Mt. Kisco and St. Mary's High School in Katonah, NY. On February 12, 1943, she married Robert Van Tassell and for 54 years they enjoyed a loving relationship until his passing in 1997. They resided in the Mt. Kisco, Purdys and Brewster area before moving to the upstate area of New York in 1990. She was a past member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Mt. Kisco and the American Legion in North Salem. Surviving her are her three daughters and their husbands, Roberta and David O'Shaughnessy of New Hartford, NY, Lorraine and Raymond Smith of Bennington, VT, and Christina and Warren Meinzer of Ilion, NY. She is also survived by a brother, John S. Merritt and his wife, Anne of New Jersey. She was predeceased by two sisters, Eileen Sama and Dorothy Kirsch. She also leaves five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Funeral service and committal were private. A Mass of Life for Robert and Christina Van Tassell will be at a later date. Arrangements were with Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., Herkimer, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, NY; or the American Lung Association. Many thanks to all the wonderful people at Hospice and the Siegenthaler Center who made our Mom's life a little easier, Nurse Judy Simonette, Sister Sharon Ann Boyd, and especially her caregiver who was with her from the beginning, Patricia Whitehead, who always made her days a little brighter.