Zelphina "Rusti" Farner DiPierro

Zelphina “Rusti” Farner DiPierro, 89, of Lancaster, Ohio, passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025 at the Fairhope Hospice Pickering House in Lancaster, Ohio. Rusti was born on March 30, 1936, in Athens, Tennessee, to the late Issac and Della Mae (Jack) Farner.

The seventh of ten children, Rusti was the first of her siblings to graduate high school and immediately wanted to join the Navy. In the 1950s, a woman under the age of 21 had to have her parents’ permission to enlist, and her mother refused, so when Rusti turned 21 in 1957, she enlisted in the United States Navy and was assigned to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. There she met and married Ernest Spinelli, the father of her three oldest children. Rusti was honorably discharged from the service in 1959 and moved with Ernie to Long Island, New York, where they raised their children. In 1975, she married Carlo DiPierro and raised their son, Giancarlo. Rusti moved to Lancaster, Ohio, in 1993 to be near family.

Rusti was a lifelong expert seamstress who owned Rusti’s Needle & Thread in Lancaster, across the street from Frank E. Smith Funeral Home. She had a heart for children, infirm individuals, and veterans and used her sewing talents to support charitable organizations and veteran groups. She was a member of Olivedale Quilt Charms, where she sewed many quilts to give comfort to nursing home patients and Chillicothe veterans. Some of her other charitable work included sewing preemie outfits and burial envelopes for infants through Touching Little Lives; quilts and afghans for the foster children program at My Very Own Blanket; and quilts and hats for the cancer clinic at Fairfield Medical Center.

Rusti passionately shared her time and talent in support of veterans. For several years, she participated in the Olivedale Senior Citizens Center Veterans’ Group and its activities. As a member of Friends and Families of Veterans, Rusti worked to support struggling veterans.

In March 2024, Rusti was given the privilege of going on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. She greatly enjoyed meeting and spending the day with her fellow veterans, as well as visiting the monuments and memorials.

Rusti held a strong faith in God and loved her family deeply. She is survived by her children, Ronna (Thomas) Burton, Gregory (Caroline) Spinelli, Vincent (Rose) Spinelli, Giancarlo DiPierro; stepchildren, Ron DiPierro, Michele DiPierro, Christine (Jim) Devlin; sister, Nancy Henry; sister-in-law, Helen Farner; grandchildren, Lucas (Shannon) Burton, Tessa Burton, Lily Spinelli, great-grandson, Ellis Burton, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Rusti was also preceded in death by her brothers, Clarence “Bud” Farner, Glen Farner, Kenneth Farner, Franklin D. Farner, and Harold D. Farner; sisters, Loucille McAlister, Geneva Underdown, and Elizabeth Dixon.

Caring Cremation® has taken place through Frank E. Smith Funeral Home. A memorial service for Rusti will be held Saturday, December 27, 2025, at noon at the Frank E. Smith Funeral Home Chapel, 405 N. Columbus Street, Lancaster, Ohio, with Fr. Olvera officiating. A live broadcast of the memorial service will be on the Frank E. Smith Funeral Home and Crematory Facebook page starting at noon. Friends and family may visit from 11 am until the time of the service. Lancaster Burial Detail will be performing military honors for Rusti. A luncheon reception will follow.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 29, 2025, at noon at the Bordwine Funeral Home in Etowah, Tennessee. Friends and family may visit from 11 am until the time of the service. Inurnment will follow the service at South Liberty Cemetery in Riceville, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Olivedale Senior Citizens Center, 253 Boving Road, Lancaster, OH 43130, or Honor Flight Columbus, PO Box 20133, Columbus, OH 43220.

The Frank E. Smith Funeral Home and Bordwine Funeral Home are both honored to serve the family.

To sign the guestbook or leave an online condolence, visit funeralhome.com