Lillian Melching

Lillian Marlene Patchen Melching of Worthington, Ohio passed peacefully in her sleep on August 26, 2021, at Kobacker House in Columbus, OH. Born September 27, 1938, in Steubenville, Ohio to Joseph and Josephine Patchen, graduating from Catholic Central High School in 1956, Lil trained to be an RN at Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing, Zanesville, Ohio completing her education in 1959. She began her nursing career in Obstetrics, first at Gill Memorial Hospital then St John's Hospital in Steubenville from 1959-1963. She married Kenneth Herman Melching of Wintersville on April 20, 1963, at Holy Rosary Church in Steubenville. The newly married couple then moved to Maryland where Lil continued nursing at Providence Hospital, Washington D.C., where both of her children were born; eldest Kenneth Joseph Melching July 23, 1964, and youngest Timothy Gerard Melching March 23, 1968. They moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1978 where Lil was employed at the Columbus Developmental Center as a Psychiatric Nurse Administrator before transferring to the Ohio Department of Health where she was a Healthcare Facility Surveyor and Regulatory Compliance Reviewer. Lil retired in 2009 after 31 years of stellar service. She continued to stay in touch with her many, many friends, who all enjoyed spending the entire year shopping for the next Christmas Season. Lil is survived by her beloved husband of 58 years, Ken; her sons and grandchildren, who she loved more than life itself; Kenneth, wife Tina and children Thomas, Amelia and Elizabeth Melching of Charlotte, NC; Timothy, wife Eliza and child Gabriel Melching of Melbourne, Australia; brother Richard and Ellin Patchen, children Joseph, Sarah and Elizabeth; sister Patricia and Robert Irwin, children Brian and Jessica; Sister-in-law Jackie Beasley, children Chuck and Lisa; and her lifelong friends, Carmella, Flora, Joan, Paula, Rita and Dianna among so many more. Lil never met a person she did not genuinely embrace. She was loyal to her friends beyond measure, and they returned her love by being at her side right up to the end. Thank you to her doctors at The Ohio State University who prolonged her life allowing her the opportunity to watch three of her beloved grandchildren graduate college, travel to Australia for her son's wedding and meet her youngest grandson. She lived her life by the motto 'Measure your wealth in the love of your family and friends not in monetary gain' and never let anyone leave her home without being fed! We will all miss her - her laugh, generosity, company, hospitality, hugs, and kisses. Visitation will be Monday, August 30, 2021, from 4-7PM at SCHOEDINGER DUBLIN, 5980 Perimeter Drive. A Mass of Christian Burial will be observed Tuesday at 10AM at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, 20 E Dominion Blvd., Columbus.