Melissa Douglas Obituary

Melissa (Dormond) Douglas, 57, passed away peacefully at Albany Medical Center on December 14th surrounded by her loving family. Melissa was born in Amsterdam on November 4, 1967.
Melissa was a wonderful wife, daughter, and sibling. She was an amazing mother to her son Ryan. She exemplified all of the finest of qualities that a human being could possess. A born leader thru and thru.
Melissa attended St. Stanislaus School from kindergarten to 8th grade. She graduated from Amsterdam High School in 1985. She earned her Bachelor's degree from the College of Saint Rose in Special Education in 1990 and Master's degree in Reading from the State University of New York at Albany. Melissa dedicated her entire adult career as a special education teacher for 34 years, including 31 years at Barkley Elementary School for the Greater Amsterdam School District. She was an integral trailblazer to the transformation of how children with disabilities are now currently educated. Her contributions as a colleague and in the union were well beyond significant. The positive impact that Melissa had on her students' lives were immeasurable.
She leaves behind her devoted husband Rick Douglas of 33 years, her father Gilbert Dormond Sr., siblings Gilbert (Heather) Dormond Jr., Louis (Thania) Dormond, Christine (Thomas) Grille, Jessica Thompson, father-in-law Richard Douglas Sr., sister-in-law Beth (Frank) Hart and numerous loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews and friends. She joins her son Ryan, mother Iris, and mother-in-law Anne in eternal paradise.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Melissa's remarkable life and honor her outstanding accomplishments on Friday December 27th from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm at Rose & Hughes Funeral Home, 200 Church St, Amsterdam, NY. A time of remembrance will follow at 2:00PM at the funeral home. Entombment will be in the St. Stanislaus Columbarium, Steadwell Road, Amsterdam, NY.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Melissa's name can be directly made to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023. www.diabetes.org. Please visit Melissa's tribute at www.roseandhughesfh.com.
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