NATICK: Melissa Nettleton, age 64, a loving sister and aunt, and kind and thoughtful neighbor and friend, died on Friday afternoon, May 1, 2015, at Massachusetts General Hospital after a sudden illness.
Born in Newton, she was a daughter of the late Ralph and Helen Woodward Nettleton. Melissa was raised and educated in Natick and was a member of the Natick High School Graduating Class of 1968. She moved to Glens Falls, NY, after graduation and worked in the homeowners’ policies area for the Glens Falls Insurance Company. At that time her brother was starting a family in Glens Falls, and Melissa lovingly welcomed each new edition to the family during her time there.
Melissa returned to Natick and became employed in the office at New England Envelope. She brought bookkeeping skills she had acquired to her new job and soon became responsible for accounting and payroll. Upon New England Envelope’s closing, Melissa accepted the position of payroll clerk at Coca Cola in Needham. After a number of years a change was needed. She missed working with people and wanted to give her artistic abilities room to grow. Joining the staff of Jordan Marsh at the Natick Mall, Melissa learned that retail was a good fit for her and over her 12 years with the company learned all she could of merchandising on the floor. After an additional ten years with Macy’s, she spent the last seven years happily employed with Janie and Jack. It was there that she was able to dress windows and design layouts for items within the store while enjoying interaction with co-workers.
Away from work, Melissa led a quiet, family-centered life. She enjoyed her neighbors and had a great penchant for animals. In addition to her pets or nurturing a wounded bird, she enjoyed communing with the denizens of the Adirondacks, a place she visited frequently. Holidays were favorite times for her as she could pull out and add to decorations from past years while readying the house for the big day and any guests who might come by. She was, despite her humility, a wonderful cook and a big dinner was a joy for her to prepare. Melissa was also very kindhearted and often carried out tasks for neighbors or friends in need without seeking or wanting recognition. She will be missed.
She is survived by a brother, Ralph B. Nettleton, and his wife Ellen Gleason Nettleton of Hudson Falls, NY; a sister, Nancy Nettleton, with whom she made her home in Natick; two nieces, Kathryn Hamer and Elizabeth Wood; two nephews, Jonathan Nettleton and Peter Nettleton; and five grandnieces and nephews, Madison, Noah, Ella, Jonah, and Imogen.
Visiting hours will be in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, on Friday, May 8th from 6 – 8P.M. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Funeral Services will be private.
Donations may be made in Melissa’s memory to the Mass General Hospital Development Office, Attn: Shawn Fitzgibbons, 100 Cambridge St, Suite 1310, Boston, MA 02114. Under Memo please enter “Neurology.” Online gifts may be made at https://secure.massgeneral.org. Under “Designation” choose “Other” and type in “Neurology.”