Leslie A. Meline

MELINE, Leslie A. Passed away on July 23, 2006 in a car accident at the Sonoma Coast. A truly one-of-a-kind person with an amazing, unforgettable presence, she was beautiful, smart, and caring, always seizing any opportunity to help the ones she loved. Her tireless support and dedication to the happiness and well-being of her family was unstoppable. She was, in all ways, a lifesaver. Soon after graduating from Montgomery High School, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert Meline. She raised three children and owned the family finish carpentry company, single-handedly balancing its vast business affairs. She was an accomplished pilot for the last 25 years, flying her family to places as far away as Mexico and Canada. She was passionate about music, teaching her children the piano and often bursting into song. She was known for spontaneous acts of celebrating life's joys and living to the fullest through her favorite phrase, 'It's not fun if it's not fun.' A bewilderingly adept multi-tasker, she had a persistent knack for turning the impossible into the possible, and if something happened in her vicinity, it was probably Leslie who got it done. She raised eyebrows and was proud of it; possessed of a critical mind and a free tongue, she was incessantly angered with the current administration to an unprintable degree. Her passion for adventure was unmatched, with an avid enthusiasm for the outdoors. She realized a lifelong dream by owning a second home in Kauai and jubilantly basked in the island's splendor. She lived like she meant it and was an inspiration who will be heartbreakingly missed. She was the most amazing mother and wife that anyone could ever hope for. She enriched our lives and made better people out of us all. She is survived by her mother, Jane, her loving husband, Robert, her three children Sari, Gabe and Summer, her Russian daughter Katya, her two grandchildren, Qiana and Storey, and her siblings Tom, Shauna, and Bobby. Friends are invited to a party ("Not a funeral, dammit!, " as she would say) on Sunday, July 30 at 1 pm at Luther Burbank Art and Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa. She wanted people to have fun celebrating her life, so let's give it a go. It's an adventure. Contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice. Arrangements by DANIELS CHAPEL OF THE ROSES. (707) 525-3730.