NORWICH – Melanie Ann (Sayles) Erickson, 63, of Norwich, passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 6, 2012 at her home in Norwich.
Melanie was born in Norwich on Aug. 25, 1948 the daughter of Larry and Ruth Sayles. After graduating from Norwich High school, Melanie worked for the Chenango and Unadilla Telephone Co. as a telephone operator. In 1971 she married Edward J. Erickson, who was then in the United States Army and they spent 26 years in assignments across the United States and around the world, including numerous tours in Germany and Turkey. Among her many accomplishments, Melanie served as the mayor of the Strassburg Kaserne military housing complex in Idar-Oberstein, Germany. While living in Canton, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Saint Lawrence University. She also ran several marathons in Ottawa, Canada. Melanie had a profound love of architecture and home decorating and collected many antiques from her travels in Europe and the Middle East.
After they retired from the Army, both returned to Norwich and Melanie was a familiar figure on North Broad Street, walking her beloved terriers, Bixby and Corey Magee.
Melanie was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Ivan and James Sayles and her sister Dawn Friedel.
Melanie is survived by her husband Edward Erickson, her niece Amy Sayles of Oxford, her nephews Harold Friedel, Jr. of Preston, Kevin Friedel of Oxford and Patrick Sayles of Norwich.
A funeral service for Melanie will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Jeremy Stopford, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Earlville, will officiate. Interment will be at a later date in the J.D. Lewis Cemetery of Preston.
Friends may call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.