Melanie Prala

Beloved mother, sister, aunt, and friend, Melanie Farley Prala passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 3rd at The Legacy of The Lakes of Monclova, Maumee, Ohio. Melanie was born on December 14, 1950 to Jack and Ferne Farley, the third of ten children. She grew up in Millbury, Ohio on a farm where her dad trained horses and many of her siblings rode and showed them. That was not for Melanie - she was strong and unique from the beginning. She attended Lake High School and although good in sports and academics, she was drawn to her true talent in theater and musicals. She attended Bowling Green State University on a full ride scholarship in Voice and Drama and then stayed in BG to make a home for what she would say were her greatest passion and accomplishments, her two children, Jessica Huth and Jayson Kaufman. She was beyond proud of them and her favorite activity was spending time together and sacrificially supporting them in any way she could.

Melanie was a talented and creative problem solver along with being a very capable person with a great work ethic. She began her professional career at BGSU which led up to her role as the Assistant Director Of Promotions and Public Relations for the Athletic Department there. She fulfilled a similar role at Kent State University for a few years, but love for her family drew her back to Northwest Ohio and to her most satisfying career role as interior decorator.

Melanie met and married her husband David Prala in 1992- 1993 and they resided in South Toledo. The two enjoyed travelling and had many wonderful trips to places such as Hawaii, San Diego and Nashville; anywhere they could soak up the sun together by a pool.

Her love for life and her family was evident in all the many ways she was always there showing up for them whether for just sitting around a table laughing with her sisters and daughter (and most likely eating sweets) or coming over with paint and some power tools to help with a project. Melanie and her family also shared a firm trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior which added to their joy and love.

In retirement, she pursued her passions of gardening and many projects for friends and family, including a magical wedding reception for Jessica and son-in-law Joe in her lovely backyard, filled with boundless flowers in the beds and in arrangements on the tables all created by her. She loved having a creative outlet and various craft projects were always in progress, such as refinishing and painting furniture with Jess or creating wreaths and floral arrangements for shows with her sister Melinda.

Surviving are her children Jessica Huth (Joe) and Jayson Kaufman; father, Jack Farley; siblings: Pamela D'Amato, Amanda (Tom) Caldwell, Brett (Cherri) Farley, and Molly (Doug) Leader, brother-in-law Rick Hawley and sister-in-law Nan Farley; former husband and friend, Tony Kaufman and many cherished nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband David Prala; mother, Ferne and siblings: Jeffrey, Matthew, Kevin, Melinda, Greg and brother-in-law Bob D'Amato.

*Special thanks must be given to the amazing, caring staff at The Legacy of Lakes of Monclova who provided love and dignity over these past few years.*

Please join us in celebrating Melanie's life on Saturday, March 14, 2026 for visitation from 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. and funeral at 1:00 p.m. at Peinert-Dunn Funeral Home, 7720 Dutch Rd, Waterville, Ohio 43566.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer's Association.