Mary Ellen Meere

Mary Ellen “Mellen” Meere, age 60, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family on September 30, 2021. Mellen had been a cancer warrior since 2016, where she faced every step of the battle head on with unwavering determination and the resilience of a true soldier. Regarding Cancer, Lance Armstrong once said, “We have two options, medically and emotionally: give up or fight like hell.” Mellen chose the latter, all the way up to her final breath. Cancer may have taken the majority of her liver and the use of her legs, but it had no power over her beautifully stubborn, vivacious, and indomitable spirit.

“Come ‘ere you!” Anyone who knew Mellen can hear those words and associate them with her beautiful sky blue eyes, her mischievous dimples, and her blunt yet always honest heart of gold. Regardless, if you were a co-worker, a client, a bar mate, or family, she was always there to offer the shirt off her back, a helping hand, words of wisdom, or the loving reminder that you are a dumbass. Mellen had the ability to lighten a room with her “wicked smaht” sense of humor, unbiased kindness, generosity, and honesty.

Mellen took great pride in the 6 years that she served her country with the United States Air Force. She continued to exemplify honor, loyalty, bravery, discipline, and courage while raising her 2 children independently and achieving her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with Honors from Cal State San Bernardino. Mellen’s true heart of servitude prevailed as she personified what a social worker should be while working for over 20 years for the County of San Bernardino’s Children and Family Services as a Social Service Practitioner. The generational impact that Mellen made to a multitude of families will continue to proceed her life.

Mellen is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Mary Louise Meere, and her brothers: Christopher Meere, Leo Meere, and Harold Woods.

Mellen will be remembered and loved by her daughter, Stephanie Ochoa and her husband Steven Ochoa, her son, Christopher Smith and his wife Angela Smith, and her 7 beautiful granddaughters: Devyn Ochoa, Ryann Ochoa, Samantha Ochoa, Dylan Ochoa, Brandyn Ochoa, Gwyneth Smith, and Autumn Smith. She will also be survived by her siblings: Mary Christine Woods, Mary Kathleen Apple, Jonathan Meere, Mary Jo Carzoo, and Marianne Cole, life-long friend Elaine Sandberg, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Mellen will be cremated and laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery as well as where her heart always considered home, her birthplace Niles Ohio.

In honor of Mellen, please continue to pay it forward anytime the opportunity arises. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice and always remember to Stay Gold!