Melanie Wroe

Melanie Wroe, age 63, died peacefully at her Mercer Island home on October 27, 2014 from non-small cell lung cancer.

Born December 29, 1950 in Fargo, North Dakota, Melanie graduated from North High School. She then went on to complete a degree in philosophy from the University of North Dakota, where she majored in philosophy and graduated with her RN. Melanie completed her education at the University of Washington, where she received a Master’s in Nursing at the University of Washington with emphasis in psychiatric nursing. She then started the ERIT program at Valley Medical Center in Renton and became the Director of Nursing Education at Highline Community College. Melanie was a compassionate and dedicated instructor with awe-inspiring energy directed towards helping faculty and students.

Over her years, Melanie created a warm, loving family with her husband, Allen Sussman, and sons Zach and Sam. Melanie’s dedication to family was her passion, such that she retired from nursing with the birth of her second child. She was active in their education as an art docent, book club instructor, dance chaperone, and water polo mother. Melanie continued to support and guide her children through adulthood in her roles as a fraternity parent representative.

Melanie was an accomplished barbershop performer, judge, and coach on regional, national and international stages within the Sweet Adeline organization. She competed in numerous quartets and choruses, geographically spread across United States (California, Washington, and Minnesota), as well as Vancouver, British Columbia. As an internationally renowned coach, Melanie developed close friendships with members in Sweden and Australia/New Zealand. Her choreography and showmanship coaching sessions were often recalled as therapeutic to the soul as well as helpful on the scorecard.

Melanie is survived by her husband Allen, sons Zach and Sam, sister Jan, and brother Steve. She is preceded in death by her mother Elizabeth, father Howard, and brother Mark.

A funeral is scheduled for 6:00 PM on November 16th at Benaroya Hall, with a reception to follow. Dr. Louise Irving will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Melanie’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either the American Cancer Society or Young Women In Harmony( a Sweet Adelines organization.) Condolences can be sent to Allen Sussman.