Michael A. Stanilla Jr., 23, of Lebanon, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at MS Hershey Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family after a three-week battle with necrotizing pancreatitis.
Born on Oct. 24, 2000, in Shakopee, Minnesota, Michael, or “MJ” as many knew him, was the son of Michael A. Stanilla and the late Tammy L. (Wilman) Stanilla and Denise Stanilla.
He was a graduate of Cedar Crest High School’s Class of 2019. He attended Thaddeus Stevens College in the automotive technology program. MJ was most recently employed by Flagger Force as a flagger, a job he really enjoyed. He attended St. Mark Lutheran Church in Annville with his grandparents. He was an eagle scout with Boy Scout Troop 439, where he served as an assistant scoutmaster. He was also a vigil honor member of the Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scouts National Honor Society. His vigil honor name was Thundering Gentle Bear. As a youth, he volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House in Hershey, PA, and enjoyed helping the residents of Londonderry Village, Palmyra, PA. MJ had many interests. As an avid Vikings and Dodgers fan, he enjoyed sports, Disney World, traveling to Mexico and Europe, exotic cars, music, heavy metal concerts, and video games, and he was known for his sneaker collection.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister, Elizabeth Diffenderfer, and her husband, Christhian Sosa, of Philadelphia; his brother, James Diffenderfer (Sophie Allen), of Philadelphia; his niece, Emilia Sosa; his nephew, David Sosa; his paternal grandparents, Peter and Donna Stanilla; his uncles, Brian Stanilla (Stephanie Wolfe) and Jack Rissmiller (late aunt, Michelle Rissmiller); his aunts, Kathy Eckenroth (late aunt Joyce Garee) and Elaine Eckenroth; and his many great aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at 10 a.m. at Kochenderfer Church, 1105 Kochenderfer Road, Lebanon. Interment will be in Grand View Memorial Park, Lebanon. There will be a viewing on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. at the church. There will be an additional viewing on Saturday morning from 9-10 a.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Friends of Camp Mack. Please send donations to P.O. Box 56, Landisville, PA 17538. Or contributions can be made to Friends of Camp Bashore. Please send donations to 1003 Stanford Dr., Lebanon, PA 17042.
