UTICA - Taryn Nicole Pakenham, 18, of Utica, passed away June 10, 2018 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Private family only services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 15 at the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota with Rev. Steven Breedlove officiating. Interment will be private at a later date. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, June 14 at the funeral home. 

Taryn was born Nov. 11, 1999 in Peru to Dena (Walters) and Dan Pakenham.

Survivors include her mother and stepfather, Dena and Rodney Steele; her father and stepmother, Daniel and Jenny Pakenham; one brother, Dillan (Allison) Pakenham; one sister, Kailee Pakenham (William Longmire); two step-sisters, Taylor Renner and Kalli Steele; one step-brother, Joshua Steele; one nephew, Eastyn Pakenham; her maternal grandparents, Roy and Diane Ayers; paternal grandparents, Terry and Mary Politsch; step-grandparents and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Fred Walters; and paternal grandfather, Daniel Pakenham.

Taryn attended Mendota Grade Schools and Waltham Junior High where she was a member of the basketball and volleyball teams. She also played travel softball and more recently women’s slow pitch softball. She was a 2018 graduate of LaSalle-Peru High School and planned to attend IVCC in the fall to study criminal psychology. She was employed at the Starved Rock Lodge dining room. She loved her cat Herbie, enjoyed traveling with her mom, spending time with family and friends and being Aunt TT to her special nephew Eastyn. She was looking forward to the arrival of another nephew this summer. Taryn was a good friend to many.

Memorials can be made in Taryn’s memory to IVAR or Ashley’s Battle Buddies (Ashlee Watson medical fund).