Obituary of Melody Ann Brown

Melody Lingemann-Brown Melody Lingemann-Brown, beloved mother, wife, sister, aunt and friend recently passed away suddenly due to complications from breast cancer at age 56. Melody Ann was born in Santa Cruz on April 28, 1955. She graduated from Bonny Doon Elementary, Mission Hill Middle and Santa Cruz High Schools and went on to earn an A.S. degree from Cabrillo College. Her professional life was devoted to oral health. She started working as a dental assistant as a teenager and eventually completed Cabrillo's dental hygiene program where she graduated top of her class. She worked as a hygienist in Aptos for more than 20 years where she was beloved by both co-workers and patients. At Halloween she was known to pass out toothbrushes along with the candy, to the surprise delight of neighborhood children. She loved nature and the outdoors. She even completed a three mile hike with her young great-niece-and-nephew just two weeks before her passing. She had a special way with children and animals that put them immediately at ease. She was also a skilled cook, seamstress, photographer and artist, trying her hand at many mediums including stained-glass, hot glass beads, pique assiette, and knit/crochet/macram. Melody's sunny disposition was an inspiration to us all as she bravely battled breast cancer for the past 20 months, always keeping a positive attitude and never complaining. She was believed to be in remission when her heart failed while sleeping in the early hours of August 2 at her home in Rio Del Mar. She leaves behind daughter and best friend Rochelle Brown and her partner of 24 years Joseph Prata. Melody was close with her siblings wh are spread across Northern California. Sisters, Starr Saam, Dawn McDonald, Leimone Waite, Lorine and Dalu Lingemann as well as brothers John, Kurt, Bo and Jion Lingemann. She will also be dearly missed by her many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother Julia Ann Lingemann, a cancer survivor herself, in 2010 at age 92. A private memorial will be held this month in Bonny Doon. Arrangements are under the direction of Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel. Please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com to light a candle or express your condolences to Melody's family.