Melvin Pelley

Melvin, the youngest of 6 children, was born on February 26th, 1933, in Twillingate, Newfoundland (then still a dominion), to Nellie (née Earle) and Pearse Pelley.

Melvin attended the United Church in his youth but joined the Salvation Army at the age of 13, where he became a soldier, learned to play an instrument and joined the band, served for several years as Corps Young People’s Sergeant-Major, and felt the call to become an officer (pastor).

In 1965, Melvin travelled to the Salvation Army’s International Congress in London, England. While out sightseeing, he managed to catch the attention of a young Norwegian Salvation Army captain. After some long-distance correspondence, Brynhild Ludvigsen immigrated to Newfoundland, where they were married in 1967.

Melvin entered the College for Officers Training in St. John’s, Newfoundland in the fall of ’67 as a member of the Evangelists session. Brynhild and Melvin served as Corps Officer (pastors) in several Corps (churches) in Newfoundland, Saskatchewan, and Quebec. They also served for five years in Mens’ Social Services in Toronto, Montreal and Saint John, New Brunswick.

Melvin was father to two children: Suzanne (b. 1968, d. 1989) and Stephen (b.1971).

After retiring in Chateauguay, Quebec in 1998, Melvin and Brynhild served for several months as pastors at the Free Methodist Church in Clarenceville, and he served for a time as the chaplain of the Kiwanis Club. Melvin was a soldier of the Montreal Citadel Corps.

Melvin’s last years were filled with illness which prevented him from participating as actively as we he would have liked. He spent the better part of his last year in hospital, and moved to Sherbrooke, Quebec to be closer to his family.

Above all, Melvin valued friendship and family. Even up until his last weeks, he regularly called family and old friends that he’d made during his various appointments to catch up with and to encourage.

Melvin is preceded by his mother, Nellie; father, Pearse; sisters, Ada, Allegra and Margaret; brothers, Agustus and Hayward; and daughter, Suzanne. He is survived by his wife, Brynhild; son, Stephen (Stéphanie Roux); and grandchildren, Kari, Olivia and Jacob.

There will be a time to gather and share together on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 10 am, followed by a memorial service at 11am, at the Collins Clarke MacGillivray White Funeral Home located at 5610 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal.

For those who are unable to travel but would like to watch online, the service will be streamed at 11 am EST (12:30 pm in NL). Collins Clarke MacGillivray White will webcast the funeral ceremony of Major Melvin Pelley on Thursday, September 5, 2024 from 10:50 AM EDT to 12:05 PM EDT.

You can view the ceremony live or on replay at https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/97185

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Operation Smile Canada, a cause that was very dear to Melvin’s heart.

https://operationsmile.ca/