Obituary of Melanie D. Bergfeld

Friends and family gather this weekend to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Melanie Diane Bergfeld, born October 14, 1984, to August and Laura (Johnson) Bergfeld in Columbus, Ohio. She died suddenly on November 27, 2022, in her home. Melanie left Ohio in 2004 to begin a new life as partner and parent with Andrew Garris, assuming the role of mom and grandmom through the years. She is survived by her father, August Bergfeld (Terry), brother Mark Bergfeld, aunts, uncles, and cousins – all of Columbus and environs - and by her beloved partner of twenty years, Andy Garris, their shared children Ashley Fenchel (Todd Stark), Melinda Tomlinson (Jason), Ricky Garris (Ashlyn), Latisha Garris, Kaylee Garris, Sabastian Garris and many grandchildren, to whom she was affectionately known as "awma". She would have wanted us to also remember her precious pets, Aries and Malaysia, as part of her dear family. Melanie, recognized as very 'tech savvy', was especially interested in electronics and worked in the cellular telephone industry for many years, most recently with Spectrum, gathering many, many friends along the way. She was widely regarded as caring and compassionate, and always willing to lend a hand wherever it was needed - a real 'go-to' girl if the going got rough. Melanie was a family first person, but also found time to enjoy travel and adventure when she could. Hobbies included nail art, kayaking and antiques. She will travel to Ohio to rest near her mother, Laura Johnson Bergfeld by whom she is pre-deceased. Services for Melanie will be held on Sunday, December 4, 2022 at McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water Street, Elmira, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. A funeral service will follow at 3:15 p.m.