Melanie, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter and friend passed away peacefully at her home on April 3, 2025, at the age of 82. Melanie is survived by her sons: John (Susan) Yeager, Paul (Erin) Yeager, Jim (Liz) Yeager and, her daughter, Penelope (Tuko “T”) Taumoepeau, and her cherished grandchildren: Joshua, Josiah, Isaiah, Abe, Drew, Ben, Lucy, Katey and Joy. Melanie was preceded in death by her beloved grandson, Elisha Yeager (2021).
Melanie was born on October 6,1942 in Providence, Rhode Island to Walter and Doris Grant. An only child, Melanie’s early years were marked by joyful summers at the beach with her fun-loving cousins. During her adolescence, she was an army brat, following her father to military bases, including memorable posts in West Point, New York and Hokkaido, Japan. After settling in Maryland, she graduated high school from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. Two years later, Melanie earned an associate’s degree from Marymount College. While living in Maryland, Melanie attended a dance at the US Naval Academy and was briefly introduced to Fred. Struck by her vibrant smile and her friendly charm, Fred requested and memorized her address. He wrote her a letter that same week and Melanie returned his correspondence, sparking a decades long love story.
Melanie and Fred married in Washington, D.C. in 1964 and began their life together in Mainz, Germany, where Fred was stationed. In 1965, Melanie’s dream of becoming a mother came true, with the birth of her first son John. During her second pregnancy, Fred received a deployment to Vietnam and she returned home to Washington, D.C. The communication which sparked her romance remained paramount and they exchanged letters and recorded cassettes during their time apart. In 1967, she was blessed with her second son, Paul. Fred returned, and in 1970 when he proposed a move to California to begin a career in finance, she supported his dream. Together, they created a loving home and a new life in Burlingame, California where they lived for 55 years. In 1974, Melanie joyfully welcomed her son Jim into the world. Three years later, she gave birth to her treasured daughter, Penelope Jane.
Melanie’s priorities were always clear: faith, family and friends, in that order. She nurtured her loved ones with faithful prayer, gentle listening, and endless encouragement. At the heart of her faith was her daily gratitude to God. A devoted Catholic, she frequently attended daily mass and was active in the parish life of St. Catherine’s, participating in Renew, serving as a eucharistic minister and together with Fred, serving as a marriage preparation counselor.
In her Burlingame community and beyond, Melanie was eager to share a walk or a coffee milkshake with friends of all ages. She also enjoyed good luck traditions and delighted in exchanging “rabbit, rabbit” texts with her grandchildren each month. And then there was her impeccable calendar; she lovingly recorded small details and was steadfast in her joyful remembrance of every birthday, anniversary, and celebration that crossed her path.
Melanie will be remembered with love for her spirit of gratitude and her kind and thoughtful heart. She found joy in each day, delighting in the Lord, and finding daily assurance in her favorite verse, “Behold I am with you always, even until the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
A funeral mass will be held on Friday, June 13, 2025 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church 1310 Bayswater Ave, Burlingame, CA 94010. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church or Samaritan House of San Mateo County.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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