Colleen Melena (nee Farrell)

Funeral Date July 10, 2021

Visitation Friday, July 9th from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.at St. John Funeral Home, Chagrin Falls, with a Mass of Christian Burial to be held Saturday, July 10th at 10:oo a.m. at St. Joan of Arc Church, Chagrin Falls (Please meet at church). Private interment will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to Hospice of the Western Reserve, P.O. Box 72101, Cleveland, OH 44192.  See full notice for details.

COLLEEN MELENA (nee Farrell) passed peacefully in her sleep on July 4, 2021 at the age of 65, surrounded by family at home in Chagrin Falls. Colleen was the beloved wife of Mark Melena and the cherished mother of Matt (Allison), Beth, RJ (Paige Radcliff), and Brett (Calle Garcia) Melena. She was preceded in death by her parents William and Marilyn Farrell and is survived by sister Maureen Farrell Sullivan and brothers Kevin Farrell and Tim (Cindy) Farrell. Colleen was an adored wife, mother, sister, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, friend, coworker, and coach to many.

Colleen was born January 8, 1956, in Cleveland to William and Marilyn Farrell.  She grew up on Neff Road in Cleveland with siblings Maureen, Kevin, and Tim where she attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Colleen graduated from Villa Angela (Class of 1974) where she tried with little success to keep her sister, Maureen, and dear friends out of trouble.

Colleen attended John Carroll University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and was a member of the women’s basketball team.  After graduating she worked in sales for Ohio Bell, where she met her devoted husband Mark Melena.  They married in 1986 and moved to Chagrin Falls. Colleen and Mark had four children – Matt, Beth, RJ, and Brett. Colleen was a loving and supportive mother who taught her children the importance of family, friends, and how to enjoy life. Throughout their childhood you could find Colleen sitting at the dining room table planning out meals that were under-appreciated, arranging carpools for basically every child in northeast Ohio, and begrudgingly assembling dioramas that, “definitely could have just been an essay.” She was a valued member of the St. Joan of Arc Community where she was on the PTO and passionately coached basketball and softball.  In the evenings and on weekends you could find her yelling at referees and telling Mark how he mis-coached his own basketball teams.

Colleen recently celebrated her 15-year work anniversary as a Communications Coordinator at University School. She enjoyed traveling, hosting parties, going to performances at Playhouse Square, attending book club, watching Cleveland sports and murder mysteries, and spending time with the people she loved.

As a good Irish lass, Colleen was always the life of the party and could often be found with a Makers Mark Manhattan. She was generous, whip-smart, confident, witty, even-keeled, and always over-prepared. She will be remembered fondly for her devotion to family and friends, her Irish pride, her willingness to help others, and her love of a good party.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 9th from 3:00 PM-7:00 PM. at ST. JOHN FUNERAL HOME – 16381 CHILLICOTHE ROAD., CHAGRIN FALLS, OH 44023. A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, July 10 at 10:00 AM at St. Joan of Arc – 496 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 (PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH). A private interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Hospice of the Western Reserve, P.O. Box 72101, Cleveland, Ohio 44192.