Melissa Speedy Suain

Melissa Speedy Suain, 81, of Christiansburg passed away Saturday, December 7 at Commonwealth Assisted Living. She was originally from Hazel Hurst, PA, but was born in Kane, PA. Melissa loved children. Everyone called her Granny, even if she wasn’t their real one. She was active in the fresh air program that arranged for children from New York City to spend a week or two with a host family.  She hosted several fresh air children over the years.  Melissa was also involved with arranging for foreign exchange students to spend their senior year with host families.  In 1995 she hosted a student from Italy.  Giordi still stays in touch and calls her Mom.  She was a doll collector with a prized original Shirley Temple. She worked hard for her family. She was a skilled seamstress, ran the University of Pittsburgh snack bar, ran her own restaurant in New York and helped her husband at their Ford dealership.

Melissa had been a member of the Martinsville Henry County Lions Club in Martinsville, Virginia, and also had been a member of the Henry County Virginia Rotary Club in Collinsville, Virginia.  She served as President of the Derrick City Pennsylvania PTA and was very involved for many years.  Melissa also formed a military support group for the families of the local residents of the Olean, New York area serving in the Gulf War in the 1980's where her son Mark Suain was actively deployed.

 Melissa is preceded in death by her parents, Edwin & Marian Speedy; daughter, Donna Suain Giannattasio; brother, Bernard ‘Bing’ Speedy and Walter ‘Wally’ Speedy; and lifetime friends, Larry & Linda DeRosia.

 Melissa is survived by her husband, Harold Suain; children, Melissa Ann Steiner and husband, Mark, Joan Connor and husband, Randy, Nancy Yohe, David Suain and wife, Gina, and Mark  Suain and wife, Tracy; 14 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; sister, Jeanette Smith; brother, William Speedy and wife, Margie; foster children, Jennifer Cornelius and Angela Alexis; and many nieces and nephews.

 The family will receive friends on Saturday, December 14, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Horne Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 12 in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Jonathan Steiner and Rev. Mark Beckwith officiating.