Melanie Lee Quinlan

Melanie Lee Quinlan, age 65, of New Philadelphia entered into heaven on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, while in the care of Community Hospice’s Truman House, following a brief battle with cancer.

Born on October 7, 1956, in North Baltimore, Ohio Melanie was a daughter of the late Wylie M. and Winnie P. Britton Lafferty.

At a young age, the family relocated to the Tuscarawas Valley and Melanie became a 1975 graduate of New Philadelphia High School. A year later on August 14, 1976, she married David Quinlan and together the couple raised twin children.

In her younger years, Melanie was employed by the former Endres Floral Company and later worked for Sacred Heart School as a classroom aide and transitioned into being the church secretary. She recently retired from the Tuscarawas County Public Library.

Being a library employee was a perfect fit for Melanie as she was an avid reader often reading 12-15 books a month. She enjoyed cooking with her husband and preparing special meals for holiday events. Her favorite holiday to go all out was St. Patrick’s Day in which everything at all meals became green for the day.

Melanie was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Church, a fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and cherished time spent supporting her children in their activities. Later in life, she had become very fond of being Móraí to her grandchildren and spending time with them.

In addition to her husband of 46 years, Melanie is survived by her children, Wylie Quinlan of New Philadelphia and Katie (Sam) Rodriguez of Deersville, and her grandchildren, Henry and Eva Rodriguez.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Fr. Jimmy Hatfield on Friday, September 30, 2022, at 1:00 PM in Sacred Heart Catholic Church at New Philadelphia. Inurnment in Calvary Cemetery at New Philadelphia is planned for a later date. The Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia is handling cremation care and arrangements.

The family requests memorial contributions in Melanie’s name be directed to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.