Obituaries

Steven Paul Melnick, Sr.

April 3, 1949 - May 23, 2026

Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM on Friday May 29th at the Trinity Global Methodist Church, 172 Churchtown Rd., Pennsville, NJ where friends may call 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Thursday evening May 28th and 10:00 AM Friday prior to the services. In lieu of flowers please donate to: American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Trinity Global Methodist Church, National Kidney Foundation or the Pennsville Humane Society.

It is with deep love and sadness that we announce the passing of Steven Paul Melnick, Sr., age 77, of Pennsville, NJ. He passed away peacefully at home on May 23, 2026, with his loving wife and children by his side.

Steve was born on April 3, 1949, in Salem, NJ to Chrissie Marie (Jess) Melnick. He was raised by his mother and grandfather, George A. Jess Sr. “Pop Jess,” on his grandfather’s farm in Carney’s Point, NJ. This special place is where his love of family and gardening began. This is where his roots dug deep and his mentality of work hard, love hard, all made sense.

Steve graduated from Penns Grove High School in Penns Grove, NJ, in 1968.

He was first employed by Anchor Hocking, where he met Emma, the love of his life. He was later employed by BF GOODRICH/Mexichem and worked as a maintenance mechanic for 45 years, until his retirement in 2015.

Steve and Emma were wed on August 22, 1970, at Hudson United Methodist Church in Pedricktown, NJ. The loving couple recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, in August 2025.

Steve really enjoyed gardening and grew the best NJ tomatoes. In his retirement, he also enjoyed woodworking and was a master wood turner of bowls, vases, and ornaments. His other hobbies included fishing, NASCAR, fixing things, mowing and caring for his beautiful yard and flowers.

He was a cat and dog whisperer and loved his current dog, Milo, and his cat, Binx. In his life he cared for King, Tiny, Sanya, Jason, Buffy, Buttercup, Buddy, Mama Kitty, and his granddogs JackPoo and Bubba. All were special to him.

Steve is survived by his wife, Emma Elizabeth Garrison Melnick, son Steven Paul Melnick Jr.(Candace Burlingame), daughter Shirley Marie Melnick (Mickey Crouse), and our blood brother cousin, Joseph Robert Ford, who he loved like his own son. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Kristian D. McNiss Jr. (Brittany Williams-McNiss), Emma Marie McNiss, Mirissa Michele Melnick, and great-granddaughter, Virginia Ruth McNiss.

He was predeceased by his grandfather, “Pop Jess” George Armstrong Jess Sr., his mother Chrissie Marie Jess Melnick, and his mother and father-in-law, Augusta Virginia Bagwell Garrison and Edward Tatum Garrison, Jr.