Melissa Pappas

Melissa Pappas, 37, of Charlotte, passed away on August 11,2016. She was born in Winston-Salem, NC on March 23, 1979. Melissa is the only child of John A. Pappas and Nilza da Rosa Pappas. Melissa was a member of the St.Nektarios and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. She was baptized in Whitestone, NY and her godparent (Nounos) was her cousin Constantine K Papadopoulos.

Melissa was a happy child in spite of her medical problems. She was a residence of the Angel Home of UMAR and an artist of the UMAR Arts Center of Charlotte. She was very artistic; extremely creative and versatile. Melissa loved to paint, make jewelry and ceramics, as well as other crafts. She also enjoyed photography, loved music and singing.

She traveled to Greece and to Uruguay, SA several times and she was loved by all she met. She had a talent for languages and besides English, she could converse in Greek, Spanish and Portuguese. She liked to visit museums and historical places and was very keen in history and modern American music.

Melissa worked for Banana Republic for 7 years and she loved it.

She was very caring and loving and volunteered at an early age and played the violin for the residents of Sharon Towers Presbyterian Home and until recently at Southminster Retirement Home.

She loved animals and enjoyed reading. Melissa was not only curious but extremely observant and had an unusual great memory.

She attended Sedgefield Elementary School and graduated from Myers Park High School. She enjoyed life and her hearty laugh still reverberates in the air.

Melissa enjoyed participating in the Joy Class of the Providence United Methodist Church with her "sisters" of the UMAR homes for over ten years.

Melissa is survived by her parents John A. Pappas and Nilza da Rosa Pappas, and her maternal grandmother Zaida Techera of Uruguay, SA to whom she was very close. She was predeceased by her maternal grandfather Agripino da Rosa and her paternal grandparents Athanasios and Maria Papadopoulos of NY City. She is survived by a lot of uncles, aunts and cousins in Uruguay, Greece and New York.

We would like to thank everyone who in one way or another touched her life - family, friends, staff etc. Special thanks to Sara Emser, Angie McLendon, Jacky Douglas (UMAR) and everyone at the UMAR Arts Center of Charlotte for the excellent care and love they gave to Melissa.

We would finally like to thank all the doctors and their staff for the excellent care they gave Melissa all these years.(Doctors: John Pascal, Richard Sigmon, Charles Seehorn, late H.Grant Taylor, Justin Favaro, Lewis McCurdy, John E.Barkenbus, Adawadkar , Moore, and Norman).

Melissa was the center of our universe and life. She was our light and brought a lot of happiness and joy to us during her short life.

Memorial Services will be held at the Providence United Methodist Church, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211 on August 21, 2016 at 2:00 pm

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Providence United Methodist Church or the UMAR ARTS CENTER, 1025 E.36th St, Charlotte. NC 28205.

Online condolences may be left at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com