Laura Louise Mellen

Laura Louise (Brink) Mellen
of Binghamton
Laura Louise (Brink) Mellen, 90, of Binghamton, died Thursday, April 26th, 2007, after a brief illness. Daughter of the late Victor H. Brink and Ruth (Goodrich) Brink, Port Dickinson, she was predeceased by her husband, Ethan A. Mellen; sister, Margaret Hicks, Phelps, N.Y.; and son, Curtis B. Mellen, Binghamton. She is survived by her brother, Charles (and Nancy) Brink, Binghamton; and sister, Betty Ruth (and Nelson) Horne, Chatauqua, N.Y.; her sons, Allen (and Elizabeth) Mellen, New York City, and Philip Mellen, Binghamton; and her daughter-in-law, Sandra Mellen, Binghamton. She is also survived by grandchildren: Grace, Ethan, and Melissa Mellen (and their mother, Theresa Brom); Jeffrey Mellen; Craig Mellen and daughters, Damiana and Caitlin; Brian (and Tina) Mellen and children, Gabrielle and Ryan; Adam (and Angie) Mellen and sons, Avery, Austin and Ashton, Marietta, Ga.; Michelle (and Dan) Dofton and children, Aidan, Owen, and Emma; and Jane Dudley (and Scott Gurley), North Middlesex, Vt.; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Laura attended Keuka College (Class of '38). She served as warden of Christ Church (Episcopal), Binghamton, worked for twelve years as Advertising Director of Binghamton Industrial Supply Company, and once ran for councilman in the Town of Chenango. She was active in the Soroptimists Club and American Business Women. She enjoyed books, music, current events and politics, had a lively interest in family developments. A sister, mother, aunt, and grandmother beloved by many, she brightened the life of anyone who came in contact with her. She touched our lives with her friendliness and charm, her poised demeanor, her unusual measured manner and intelligence. What she once wrote of another applies to her: "She took the music of life as it came, and supplied the grace notes."
Funeral service will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Chenango Bridge, Saturday, May 5, at 10:00 a.m. A family celebration of her life will be held at Heart Lake, Pa., Memorial Day weekend.