Melanie Marie Lewis

Melanie Marie Lewis, 48, passed away quietly Friday, July 4, 2008, at Hamot Medical Center, Erie, surrounded by her beloved husband and treasured sons. Melanie had sustained a serious tractor accident at the family farm on Tattle Road, Cambridge Springs on Wednesday, July 2, 2008. The tremendous outpouring of love, prayers, and support from extended family and friends eased the transition."Mel" as she was affectionately known by many, was born February 13, 1960 in Meadville, daughter of Glenn Porter and Lawanda Holland Porter. She graduated from Cambridge Springs High School in 1978 and was employed for some years at Northwestern Rural Electric and Lord Corporation both in Cambridge Springs. For the past 19 years she was employed by Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where she the director of graduate studies. As a working parent of four sons, she had been working to complete her bachelor of arts degree and had one class remaining. Presently she was president of the State College and University Professional Associations Union in Edinboro.After her mother, Lawanda Porter, passed away on Jan. 21, 1966, Mel was loved and cared for by her maternal grandmother, Pauline Holland, who died Jan. 9, 1999.Melanie possessed a wonderful loving and giving spirit. She had a selfless concern for the well-being of others and personally helped and touched the lives of hundreds of young people and university students. Melanie's love for animals was well known. She cared for and was adored by several dogs, cats, ferrets, and most recently, her Morgan-mix horse, Sonny. She found great pleasure in riding, grooming, and caring for him as well as other family horses. Mel was an accomplished equestrian and earned and won numerous awards.Even in passing, Melanie passed on the gift of life through organ donations done by CORE.Melanie is survived by her loving husband of 16 years, Terence, whom she married April 24, 1992. She fondly called him "Terry" or "Scratch.” Additional survivors include her four sons, Steven Quiring of Tampa, Fla., Christopher Quiring and his fiancee, Amanda King, Matthew Quiring, and Michael Quiring, all of Cambridge Springs; her step-mother, Louise Bock of Franklin; a special cousin who was a close, dear friend, Troy Holland; six sisters, Glenda Gross and her husband, Eric, of Medina, N.Y., Melinda Burger and her husband, James, of Meadville, Christina Perry of Franklin, Tracey Hart and her husband, Timothy, of Franklin, Heidi Ciesielski and her husband, Russell, of Gaines, Mich., and Melissa Choppa and her husband, John, of Greenville; nieces and nephews Samantha Roskowski, Molley and Elle Gross, Jessica, Jimmy, Jarret, Jenni, and Jacob Burger, Ashley, Tyler, Haley, and Hannah Perry, Kristina Ross, Michael and Jordan Hart, Maxwell and Madelyn Ciesielski, Danna and Montana Choppa; step-children Joshua and Michael Choppa; aunts and uncles Paul and Beverly Holland and Arita Wood; cousins Paul Holland Jr., Michael and Jenny Holland, Philomena and David Gill, Erin and Emily Wood; two brothers-in-law, William Lewis and his wife, Kerry, and Timothy Lewis and his wife, Maryann; a sister-in-law, Cynthia Lewis Maly and her husband, Martin; nieces and nephews, Mark, Elaine, Michael, Jason Lewis and Rachel Maly; and two great-nephews, Christian Taylor and Dominic Antonucci.In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by a nephew, Jacob Burger. Friends may call at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and are invited to attend funeral services there Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. with Mr. Dennis Chludzinski and Ms. Meg Maly officiating. Memorials may be made to the Crawford County Humane Society, 11012 Kennedy Hill Road, Meadville, PA 16335.
This obituary was originally published in The Meadville Tribune.