Melanie A. (Whitham) Dunham, 55, a resident of Swanzey and former long-time resident of Keene and Princeton, MA. ended her life long battle with schwannomatosis on Thursday, May 30, 2018 at Cheshire Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Keene.
Melanie was born the daughter of Beverly (Whitham) and Albert Whitham on May 20, 1963 in Keene. She was educated in the Quabbin Regional Schools in Barre, MA. and graduated from Keene High School class of 1981.
On October 24, 1981 she exchanged vows with Bruce M. Dunham at the First Congregational Church of Swanzey. They were married with family and friends in attendance. The Dunham’s’ have been married for almost thirty-seven years.
Melanie was an educator and lover of children. She worked as a cluster tutor for the Keene Middle School for eight years before retiring in 2010. Prior, she was a site manager of Meals on Wheels in Keene for several years. She was a substitute teacher for both the Keene and Monadnock School Systems. And she worked at the Keene YMCA in preschool programs.
She enjoyed camping and spent many summers as a seasonal camper at Swanzey Lake.In later years Melanie enjoyed stock car racing as a member of the 1NH Race Team. She was avid New England Patriots fan and was the winner of the Keene Sentinel’s “Biggest Pats Fan” contest in 2005. She also enjoyed a good book. Melanie was a kind-hearted soul who would give freely of her time to all children and those less fortunate. Mrs. Dunham is survived by her husband Bruce M. Dunham of Swanzey. Her daughter, Alicia D. Gillooly and her husband Corey of Manchester and a man she loved like her own child, Bryan Scott of Keene. Her mother, Beverly Whitham of Portland, ME. A grand daughter Teagan M. Gillooly of Manchester. In addition she leaves cousins, extended family and friends. Melanie is predeceased by her father, Albert Whitham who passed in 1992.
In keeping with Melanie’s wishes there are no calling hours. A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 11am. in the First Congregational Church of Swanzey, 679 Old Homestead HWY. Swanzey, NH. 03446. Burial will be private. Donations can be made in memory of Melanie A. Dunham to: Children’s Tumor Foundation, 120 Wall St. Flr. 16, N.Y. N.Y. 10005.www.ctf.org. All services are under the direction of Cheshire Family Funeral Home, 46 South Winchester St. Swanzey, NH. 03446. WWW.cheshirefamilyfh.com
