Melanie Ruth Thomas passed away peacefully Saturday February 4, 2023 in Grand Blanc, Michigan. She was born December 12, 1942 in Pontiac, Michigan.

Melanie is survived by her daughters Lisa Greenleaf, Michelle Niemi, and Kathie Ditri as well as her sister Beatrice Axford and sister-in-law Shirley Hoffman. She is also survived by her grandchildren Jessica Kennedy, Jennifer Clydesdale, Jeremy Copeland, Jack Greenleaf, and Samantha Niemi in addition to many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents George B. and Edna M. Hoffman, her husband Harold Thomas, her son Donald Schoenhals, and her siblings Edna May Ponke (Leonard), David Hoffman, Mildred Ellis (Frank), Margaret Parrish (Kenneth), Barbara Salogga (Carl), Carole Anne Malzahn (Ronald) and brother-in-law Henry Axford.

Melanie grew up in Rochester, Michigan as the youngest of eight children and graduated from Rochester High School. Melanie was an accomplished medical assistant and phlebotomist before retiring to Florida after her husband’s death to live near her lifelong friend Sharon Barr.

Melanie loved live theatre, museums, and the arts and shared that passion with her children from the time they were young. She was an avid reader and read every Agatha Christie novel ever written in addition to many other detective novels. She loved cats and was never without at least one her entire life, always rescues or strays that needed homes.

No service is planned at this time, but please consider memorial donations to the animal rescue of your choice or to Common Ground Sanctuary.

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