Melissa Holley Obituary
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Melissa was born in Marcellus, New York in 1940, the daughter of Dorothy and Irving Christensen. She graduated from SUNY Potsdam with a degree in education. She married Robert G. Holley in Schenectady, New York on June 27, 1964, who predeceased her in 1978. While Bob was a military doctor, Melissa and the family lived in New York, Hawaii, California, and Massachusetts before settling in Burlington Vermont in 1974. In 2020, she moved to Pines Senior Living Community in South Burlington.
She leaves behind her brother Chris and his wife Alma, son Scott and his wife Mary Elise, daughter Martha and her husband Marcel, and two grandchildren, Anya (Andrea) and Luke.
Melissa was a 5th grade school teacher and later worked in local libraries. She grew up on a farm and loved riding her horse Daisy and eating fresh sweet corn. She loved gardening, biking, traveling, including visiting her grandchildren in Portugal and Africa. She also enjoyed the beautiful Vermont country side, Isle La Motte, and especially liked red barns and fall colors.
The family would like to thank her caregiver/friend Karey, the Green Mountain Nursing Home team, and the UVM Hospice team for their loving care.
A memorial service will be held at Redeeming Grace Church, 164 Ballard Road, Georgia, VT on Saturday October 18th at 10:30am. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Melissa, please visit our floral store.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
1 Entry
Nancy Ciardelli
September 24, 2025
Martha , Scott and family, I´m extremely sorry to hear of your mother´s, grandmother´s sister or otherwise related passing! I had no idea she was in hospice care! I will remember her fondly from NAAC! She always had a friendly smile! I enjoyed seeing her at some of the Band concerts held by Burlington Concert Band! My deepest sympathy to all that were close to her . Nancy Ciardelli
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