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Aug. 24, 1943 – June 23, 2024
Melissa Stentoumis, 80, of Alpena, passed away Sunday, June 23, 2024, surrounded by love and grace. She was born Aug. 24, 1943, in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, to the late Arthur and Priscilla (Law) Cleaves. The family moved to Moline, Ill., in 1957, but she never lost her downeast accent or attitude. She met her husband Mike in junior high and they were best friends and lovers for 57 years.
Melissa knew what she wanted to do at the age of 14 and went on to be an exceptional physical therapist. She earned a March of Dimes scholarship to the University of Illinois and graduated from the Mayo Clinic School of Physical Therapy. She worked until the age of 70 and liked helping the elderly most of all. She did all this while raising three children and keeping Mike in line. As the family grew she became the beloved Yia Yia to her five granddaughters.
Her skill set at home was vast which included anything from house repairs to cooking Greek cuisine, to designing the family home down to the inch using her own designed software. There was no need for a blueprint. Among her passions were quilting, sewing, backpacking, sailing, kayaking, tennis, flyfishing, traveling which included multiple trips to the Caribbean, and her favorite, snorkeling. She was also fond of Jimmy Buffett tunes. She had a quicksilver sense of humor. As a mother she had one tenant: the children always came first. It was a struggle to get her to buy clothes for herself.
Melissa is survived by her husband Michael, children, Jason (Jennifer) Stentoumis, Elizabeth (Nick) Chomic, Michael A. (Diane) Stentoumis, her sister, Olivia Brunetti, sister in-law, Mary Lin Cleaves, granddaughters, Morgan, Sydney, Kirra, Avery, Parker, nieces and nephews, Rebecca, Paul, David, Tobey, Casey, Amy, and Brian. She was preceded in death by her brother, Dennis Cleaves, and her sister, Belinda Aguirre.
The family would like to extend a warm thank you to the caring staff of Turning Brook as well as the nurses at Hospice of Michigan. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at 5 p.m. at McWilliams Funeral Home with an hour of visiting beginning at 4 p.m. Memorial donations can be made to Hospice of Michigan.