Melanie S. Cadden

Melanie S. Cadden, age 59, of Lawrence Park, passed away Friday, December 18, 2020, surrounded by family in her home following health issues that were complicated by Covid. She was born in Erie on June 5, 1961, daughter of the late Anthony and Sandra Little.

Melanie graduated from Iroquois High School in 1979. Shortly thereafter she took on a job at National Fuel Gas where she continued to work for 30 years. Her greatest joys in life were simple. A perpetual beachbum, she enjoyed a lifetime of summers at the beach at Presque Isle, enjoying nature walks on the trail or reading a good book under the shade of a tree. Melanie loved to travel, no matter the distance, taking weekly road trips with her husband. Melanie sang where she went and was a lover of books, and the Hallmark Channel. Most recently she had dedicated her love to food-based crime novels. She was a dancer for many years at Little's Dance studio.

Melanie loved her community. She was a member of Luther Memorial Church and Bethany Lutheran Church. She loved working with children and spent time in retirement as a school bus aide. Melanie saw the good in everyone and was a friend to all. She taught her children to give everyone and everything a chance in this world. She loved unconditionally; her bright spirit and smile showed through wherever she went. A devoted mother, friend, and wife, she will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Melanie is survived by her husband of 32 years, Mark. E. Cadden; three children, Spencer Cadden (Jennifer), Mark A. Cadden, and Ellen Cadden; her grandson, Allen Cadden; one brother, Scott Little; one sister, Christie Oshlick (Jim); and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Dusckas Funeral Home, Inc., 2607 Buffalo Rd., on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. A private service will be held with interment to follow at Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery. All CDC guidelines that pertain to the COVID-19 pandemic will be observed. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Iroquois Foundation, 800 Tyndall Avenue, Erie, PA 16511 or the Presque Isle Partnership, 301 Peninsula Dr., Erie, Pa. 16505.