Obituary of Melissa Ruth Whitney Merritt

Our sweet Melissa passed away suddenly on November 10, 2013. She was 29. Daughter of Maureen James of Wappingers Falls and Ronald Merritt of Poughkeepsie, she was born December 1, 1983 in Beacon. Melissa was married to Gregory Whitney who survives in Colorado. Melissa was known for helping others often with just her smile and laugh. She enjoyed music and played the piano. She was a writer often journaling her thoughts; she at one time aspired to be an author. She rescued animals and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. She was a wonderful person and will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her. In addition to her parents and husband, she is survived by her siblings, Diana Lievers-Ashworth and her husband Robert of Lakeland, Florida, Kathleen Lievers-Cullen and her husband, Thomas of Poughkeepsie, James Merritt and his wife, Rachel Gardner Merritt of Charleston, South Carolina, Jessica Taylor of Pennsylvania and Daniel Taylor of Pennsylvania; her mother and father-in-law, Nancy and Robert Whitney; her sister-in-law, Melissa Whitney; her brother-in-law, Christopher Whitney; her uncle, Thomas James; and her aunt, Esther Brill and her husband, Larry. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Mark, who was her best buddy and was fourteen hours younger than her, Constance, Patrick, Gabby, Desirae, Thomas, Monica "Jordan," Jessica (her bestie), Angelica, Joey, Chris, (Aunt Sasa's love) Jimmy, Mike, Destiny, Justin and Desiree as well as great-nieces and great-nephews and other extended family. She was predeceased by her maternal grandparents, Florence and John Nelson and paternal grandparents, Dorothy and Jack Merritt. Family will receive their friends on Saturday and Sunday, November 16 and 17, 2013 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Straub, Catalano and Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 18 at St. Mary's Church, Clinton Street, Wappingers Falls. Memorial donations in Melissa's name may be made to Dutchess County SPCA, 636 Violet Avenue, Hyde Park, NY 12538. To send the family a personal condolence or for directions, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.