The celebration of life is so beautiful along with the pictures and music. In tears, gone too soon. Blowing my love to you, Missy.

Thank you Melissa for sharing some of your life with us. Happy memories never to be forgotten. Sleep peacefully. Love the Wilkinson’s

Beautiful Missy~ rest in peace. Your profound impact on all those that knew you will forever be cherished. You made all of our high school days filled with joy and laughter. You are the bright shining light that will always be remembered. I love you friend, Monica

I am a friend of Marla's since the 3rd grade and i got to know Missy and the whole family growing up in the 70's. I feel so lucky to have these sweet memories! Sending love to the family. Rest in power Missy. ❤️Myra

Dearest Dave Middleton 💙 and your family. I'm so sorry 😞 to hear that your darling wife Mel has passed away. Please 🙏 take 🙏 comfort with your beautiful family Dave Middleton at this sad 😔 moment in your lives. May Our Glorious Lord ✨️ 🙏 God shine his love and light on you'll. In Jesus Name 🙏 🙌 Amen. From Valerie Hopkinson

Condolence to you Dave & all the family and friends of Mel. I am so sad that Mel has passed but I look forward to the day that Jesus raises her up. If we are to be recognised by our characters in Heaven, Mel will be easy to identify - such a beautiful infectious character! Miss her laugh! Tons of love to you all, Kim, Jacques, Jade & Luc THERON xxx Such a beautiful tribute to Mel, thank you for sharing the link to this service and the loving memories shared of knowing Mel.

Missy, forever ingrained in my young adult life as we became partners in our Senior year of High School and some time after. Her beauty, laughter, and companionship in that time helped me grow to become a man, though most of those lessons I didn’t realize until I was much older. I was always a slow learner, but her patience was amazing. Nobody worked harder, nobody was more fiercely loyal and fearless in our collective. Her presence was felt immediately whenever she entered anywhere she went. She was a best friend to anyone who needed one. I will cherish our time together as youths. God Bless you for being my friend, dearest Missy. You remain a beacon of hope and love for all of us.

Missy is a cherished childhood friend. I will never forget the fun times in her big house. Sleepovers included singing & dancing in her huge living room, listening in on our Mothers' phone calls, and spying on her siblings. Missy was funny, adventurous, and always kind! Fly high Missy!

My girl. My soul sister. A constant, steady source of unconditional love, encouragement, and support. I have so many reflections and cherished memories of Missy that I’m compiling for you, Andrew and Jeremy. Her loss is deeply felt—it’s hard to put into words what she meant to me. It’s impossible to fit it all into one post. We met in my junior year of high school and instantly became best friends. We had that kind of friendship that feels rare and sacred. We spent countless nights at each other’s homes—our moms became second mothers to one another. We had a tight group of girlfriends, and we loved each other fiercely. That kind of bond, that unconditional support—it came from the culture of our all-girls high school. We were lucky. We knew it even then. Missy and I shared so many adventures: Our first apartment. Working together at the deli. Her dragging me (willingly) to aerobics so I’d get in shape. Learning to scuba dive—though I definitely had a panic attack. Our 18th birthday party, Proms, vacations. We saved every penny to travel: Hawaii, Fiji, Australia, and finally New Zealand. Even as life took us to different parts of the world, we stayed in touch. I flew back to NZ twice to see her. She came to visit me in Oregon—that’s when we met Dave. We always made the effort. One of the greatest gifts was last October, when many of our Holy Names sisters gathered around her in love, laughter, and old stories. That time together will forever stay in my heart. Missy was a steady, radiant force of goodness—through everything, even her diagnosis. She was an incredible friend to me during the times in my life when I needed someone who believed in me without judgment. She always showed up with love. Missy, I miss you beyond words. Thank you for loving me, for being my sister. Rest well, my love. ❤️

Mel, We have been friends for over 25 years, I am writing this the night before your service from Perth, as I have been thinking of the words to write. Firstly to Dave, Jermey, Andrew and Family I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Mel. We meet when Mel was a Rep for Living Foods and we so became friends. Weekends in Auckland, Hamilton and Palmy having fun, to Cold Chisel in Concert. Dinners whenever you visited with work and I was living outside of Auckland. From late nights to early mornings we always had fun. It feels like yesterday that I last spoke to you, I miss you my beautiful friend. You will always be in my heart and thoughts. With all my love - Fly High and Travel Safe on your new Journey Beautiful. With Love Kylie

Dear Mel ,15 years we met You arrived on the back of Dave’s motorbike …’ A new horizon ,did not fuzz you , Bring it on ..,with that beautiful smile,blonde blowing in the breeze and a personally to boot ,,a gift from God , we say Our condolences to Families and Friends Your life was a blessing’ to us all .

To Celebrate Mel missy Middelton life was a pleasure to be aprt of her life journey while we went to church toghter in New Plymouth.

Mel you were a bright shining star, you shone your light so bright for everyone to see. So glad to have met you at Living Foods, I remember you as always being so beautifully dressed, you were always cracking us up with your hilarious sense of humour, you were so driven and so full of energy and get up and go! such a pleasure to work with and you wouldn’t take no BS from anyone!! So blessed to call you my friend, you were always the social instigator and for that im incredibly grateful. You will be dearly missed and your memory cherished. Love to Dave, Jeremy, Andrew and family.

Our sincere condolences to David, Jeremy, Andrew, Alicia, Mel’s wider family and vast circle of friends. Our memories of Mel are always tied to sincerity and laughter. Whenever we met Mel, she would always ask after our friends and loved ones and be genuinely interested in our lives, and recall snippets of conversation we had in the past. There are people persons, and this was Mel’s special gift. Mel had a straight up honest warmth that made people feel comfortable and special; reaching out, checking in, touching base. We always felt afterward we had been in the caring presence of someone who walked her talk. The icing on the cake was always Mel’s humour and laughter- BIG and LOUD laughter! No matter if your own cake was tough going, with her human touch she could help you see icing on it that would help you get it down -and keep going. She walked her own talk, and in her health struggles bravely persevered, was unafraid to try new things and kept her own concerns tucked away, to share in private. In her faith walk- one of a kind like all of ours have to be- Mel had her own unique pace and was able to make her peace with our God. So while the battle with illness has been temporarily lost for now, Mel chose the correct side for eternal life, and passing away in faith has won the victory in Christ.

My deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the entire family. Missy will forever be missed and held close in our hearts. We met back in high school, and I’ll never forget how her radiant smile and infectious laugh could light up any room. Just look at the photos — her zest for life shines through in every one. She was a true gift in my life, and a rock of support during my battle with breast cancer. I will always be grateful for her friendship, love, and unwavering strength.

Sending prayers and hugs to the entire family. Missy (what we called her) we met in elementary school and she was always full of energy laughter, light, positivity, and was an amazing athlete in every sport! Her laugh was amazing and we grew up having the best times. She will be missed by many, we are all just blessed we had her in our lives.

Hi David and Melissas's fam. My sincere condolensessto David and familily. She is in good hands of god and her angels. I am saddend by the news that Melissa is no longer with us. She is such a beautyful soul and sunshine, lighting up every room she enters and warming up the heart and spirit of everyone she met. My sincer condolensess to David and fam. Annette from where we enjoyed our cofee's at Debt cafe. Lots of love to all of you. 💜💕

We were blessed to have you in our lives Mel, you made Mukies a home, filled it with love and warmth. Thank you so much for all you did for us Mel, you were hardworking, loving and so much fun. RIP Mel all our love Jon and Charlie xxx

my love my sister unforgettable light and life at home abroad in spirit God bless you my love always forever

My love, my dear sister forever to imprint perseverance, laughter and love on hearts with family and many friendships forever and ever love you always sister

My darling friend Mel We met 33 years ago when she was doing classes at the William Jordan Centre in Onehunga and we just geled immediately. Then ensured a close friendship which took us through a roller coaster ride together through thick and thin always there for each other, how do you sum up all of that in a couple of paragraphs Mel has always had a real zest for life, the glass always half full. My fondest memories of her being on the dance floor, not a care in the world, that was Mel. Mariah Carey, Earth Wind and Fire, Luther Vandross and all the old school music that she loved. She would light up the room with her contagious energy and her bubbly nature, and that laugh!!! She was a beautiful soul Whatever Mel chose to do she did it 💯 from her body building to her fight against this dreaded disease which she fought to the bitter end. Mel had so much love and she showed this through her husband Dave, her sons Jeremy and Andrew her family and the people that surrounded her Later in life she found her faith and I am so grateful that she has found solace in that journey. Mel I love you sweetheart I’m going to miss you so much you have been part of my life for such along time, our weekly catch ups our deep and meaningful conversations , you will leave a hole in my heart that will never be replaced and I will always cherish what we had and the friendship we shared together❤️

Going to miss our friend and neighbor Things are not going to be the same Mel 😢 We hope your flying high and watching down on us ❤️

I have met many people in my lifetime.Only a handful of people I call friends. Only 1 person I was truly great full to everyday who shared their highs and lows and more. As I did with you. I hope I was able to bring some sunshine into your life as you have done for me. Thank you for all of our great phone,and zoom calls, even if neither of us wanted to share those bad hair days. 🤣Just something else we could laugh about. The last conversation we had I told you a short story that made you laugh so hard. Just hearing your laughter will be forever in my heart. To you my dearest friend Missy, Thank you for honoring me with your friendship, Denise-❣️🙏