Monday, March 15, 2010
Melissa Q. Espiritu
Monday, March 15, 2010
Melissa Q. Espiritu, 49, of New Castle, went on to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 13, 2010. She was born July 10, 1960 in Rochester, NY, a daughter of Hiram and Donna (Hamilton) Quine.
Born and raised in New York state, Melissa attended James Madison High School in Rochester, NY, graduating as class valedictorian in 1978. She also graduated from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Physical Therapy in 1982. As a young physical therapist, she served and ministered care for the health and wholeness of patients at Mount Vernon Hospital, New York and Westchester County Medical Center, Valhalla, NY in the oncology and trauma units. An avid swimmer, she loved to cheer for swimming and other sports teams very enthusiastically.
Melissa was an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), was a living example of faith, dedicated wife and mother, loved her husband into wholeness and prayed him into power for ministry. She was involved in the children's ministry at PCUSA churches in Pittsburgh, PA, Medford, NJ, and at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in partnership with First Presbyterian Church in New Castle, where she was also a VBS leader and nurturer. Melissa was a mentor to young mothers as she had been mentored as a young mom. Whether at the grocery store or the library, she befriended many, praying for their well-being. With the joy of the Lord as her strength, she imparted a heart for worship and missions to others with the compassion and love of Jesus Christ. She loved lighthouses, bed & breakfasts, and walking alongside the ocean.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, the Reverend Rex Espiritu, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of New Castle, whom she married at Mt. Vernon First Presbyterian Church on August 1, 1987; six daughters, Christina, a student at Huntington University, Hannah, L. Grace, Tabitha, Priscilla, and Sara Espiritu, all at home; her parents, Hiram and Donna Quine, who both reside in the Rochester Presbyterian Home in Rochester, NY; a sister, Marcia Snoberger of Fort Ashby, West Virginia; her mother-in-law, Natividad Espiritu of New Castle; nieces and nephews including, Uriah, Aaron, and Hayley Snoberger, Sarah Love, Rachel and Adam Kohlmeier; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Tracey Kohlmeier, and her father-in-law, Mariano G. Espiritu.
A Service of Witness to the Resurrection in Celebration of the life of Melissa will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in New Castle officiated by the Reverend Dr. Robert Maravalli, Pastor of Congregational Life Ministries at Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, PA. Friends may call from 6-9 p.m. Monday, March 15, 2010 and 9-11 a.m. Tuesday at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle. Memorial contributions may be given to Compassion International, Colordo Springs, CO 80997, or United Marriage Encounter, P.O. Box 209, Muscatine, IA 52761-0209, with envelopes available at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.hinsey-brown.com.
March 13, 2010 | |
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