For Women Only celebrates cancer survivors, acknowledges heavy toll from the disease

Event honors the late Darlene Zeliff, long-time nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Scott Robinson, director of Marketing at Orleans Community Health, introduces expert panelists at For Women Only Tuesday evening. From left are Danielle Figura with Orleans County Department of Mental Health; Pastor Lisa Myers of River Church; Lorene Barulich with Independent Health; Vianiliz Echevarria Rivera, coordinator of the Cancer Services Program of GOWN and Healthy Living of UMMC/Rochester Regional Health; Dr. Ermelinda Bonaccio, with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Heather Miles with Orleans Community Health.

LYNDONVILLE – Orleans Community Health’s annual For Women Only on June 2 at the White Birch Golf Course was an evening to celebrate cancer survivors and pay tribute to those who lost their battle.

The event this year was dedicated to Darlene Zeliff, a nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital from 1979 to 2025, as well as a nurse at Brockport College from 2008 to 2021. Zeliff was diagnosed with uterine cancer in March 2021 and died Feb. 15, 2026.  Much of the evening Tuesday was spent paying tribute to Zeliff by co-workers and her family.

(Left) Rebecca Mannella reads a tribute to the late Darlene Zeliff on behalf of Kim Gray, director of surgical services and chief nursing officer. (Right) Lori Condo welcomes a full house to the annual For Women Only on Tuesday evening.

After a welcome by assistant controller Lori Condo, director of marketing Scott Robinson introduced the panel of experts who took questions from the audience regarding cancer, diagnosis and treatment.

The panel included Danielle Figura, director of community services and director of Orleans County Department of Mental Health; Pastor Lisa Myers of River Church; Lorene Barulich, manager of clinical programs and strategy at Independent Health; Vianiliz “Vee” Echevarria Rivera, coordinator of Cancer Services Program of GOWN, Healthy Living at UMMC/RRH; Dr. Ermelinda Bonaccio, chair of diagnostic and interventional radiology and director of breast imaging at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Heather Miles, radiology technologist at Orleans Community Health.

Questions asked were “When you first receive a cancer diagnosis, what is the first step a person should take?” “What resources or support services are available?” and “What are some signs someone may need additional support?”

Foremost in their answers was “Take care of yourself, mentally and physically. Pray. Find a person to talk to and share your diagnosis.”

Next was a tribute to all the cancer survivors in the room, followed by a special tribute to Zeliff, read by Rebecca Mannella, on behalf of Kim Gray, director of surgical services and chief nursing officer.

A panel of survivors/caregivers who shared their cancer journey included Pat Vader, Ryin Moriarity, Marissa Levine and Darlene Zeliff’s children, Katie Zimmerman and Joe Zeliff.

Vader is a former employee and owner of the former Newell Shirt Factory and current employee of OCH. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, and then doctors discovered a mass on her left lung. She had surgery to remove that, which turned out not to be cancer, and finally had a lumpectomy with reconstruction. She urged women to get a mammogram, saying she was fortunate her cancer was caught in stage one.

Moriarity shared the story of her mother’s journey with Glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive brain cancer. When doctors said her mother had 14 months to live, Moriarity said she felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.

“I walked down the street and screamed, then went back and hugged her,” Moriarity said.

Her mother had surgery to remove part of the tumor, and then started chemo. When they determined that wasn’t working, she was put on chemo and radiation. After her 21st treatment, they were told that wasn’t working. At Halloween, a spot opened at Niagara Hospice and they took her there.

“I was alone in the room with her when she took her last breath,” Moriarity said.

Telling their cancer stories are, from left, Pat Vader, Marissa Levine and the children of the late Darlene Zeliff, Katie Zimmerman and Joe Zeliff.

Levine was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at the age of 29. She underwent eight surgeries and six months of therapy.

“I wanted to live,” she said. “It’s been 18 years now and most days I don’t give a thought to it. Nobody is never not touched by cancer.”

Kate Zimmerman and her brother Joe Zeliff, children of Darlene Zeliff, each shared their memories of their mother.

“Medina Hospital meant a lot to my mom,” Zimmerman said. “Her father was in the North Wing until he died.”

Joe said their mom was a force to be reckoned with.

“She was kind, compassionate and put your needs over her own. She approached all aspects  of life with a witty sense of humor,” he said. “She raised six children, and anyone who knew her knew she could stretch a dollar. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we had a lot. She always made sure we felt special. She had more patience than anyone I ever met.

Zimmerman said her mom was always her first call when she needed something.

“She was always determined to have a life well lived,” she said. “She played piano and loved dancing, singing and baking. She learned in 2021 her cancer had metastasized to her lungs, but she wouldn’t let it slow her down. She continued to work at Medina Hospital and traveled. Even after she made the decision to stop her treatment, she went on a cruise.”

In February the family gathered around their mom.

“She looked around and took her last breath,” Zimmerman said.

The For Women Only evening also included a buffet, basket raffle and vendors in the health care field.

At the conclusion of events, Condo announced they had raised $5,500 for cancer support services.