Melissa H. (Hunt) Gilligan

North Greenbush - Melissa H Gilligan passed away peacefully on September 28 th , 2025 surrounded by her family.

Melissa was the daughter of Oliver and Janette Hunt, attending Troy High School and Russell Sage for her Masters.

Melissa was a proud teacher at Bell Top Elementary School in East Greenbush School District where she taught for 32 years, earning East Greenbush Teacher of the Year in 2015 as well being named WYNT Channel 13 Top Teacher the same year. Following retirement, she continued her support of the district by coordinating the mentoring program.

Melissa spent time attending Book Club and Bible Study with her neighborhood friends, gardening, and putting on Sunday dinner for her family. She loved her annual family vacation to Cape Cod and spending time in the Winter at Anna Maria Island.

Melissa also enjoyed spending many vacations with her dear friends Kris and Mike, which included Lake Placid, the Caribbean, Mexico, and especially her long-awaited Alaskan Cruise. She looked forward each year to celebrating her birthday with her birthday twin Kris.

Melissa was a very kind person who always had time for her many friends. She was a member of Blooming Grove Reformed Church, where she served on the consistory. More than anything, she enjoyed spending time with her cherished grandchildren, Frankie, Trudy, Alice, and Bennett. Affectionately called “Grammie,” it was not uncommon to find her with the children baking, gardening in the backyard, or reading books.

Melissa will be missed dearly by her husband, Don, of 48 years, her sons Evan (Elizabeth) and Kyle (Emily), her grandchildren, her siblings, Suzanne Rielly, Cynthia (Peter) Glass, Lucinda (George) Pieper, Jon Hunt, her brother-in-law Tom Gilligan, and sister-in-law Diane Cumo, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Melissa was predeceased by her parents, her brother, David Hunt, her mother-in-law, Josephine L. Gilligan, her father-in-law, George T. Gilligan, her brother-in-law, Pat Rielly, and her sister-in-law, Jeannie Gilligan.

Family and friends are invited and may call on Thursday, October 2nd from 4-7PM at the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc.  276 Pawling Avenue Troy NY. Funeral service will be held Friday, October 3, 2025 at 10AM at First Reformed Church of Wynantskill Church Street and Main Avenue Wynantskill with Rev. Bethany Popkes, Pastor, officiating.

Interment will follow at Memory Gardens, Colonie NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Melissa’s memory to the Center for Disability Services for the benefit of the Reilly House 314 South Manning Boulevard Albany, NY 12208. We recommend using the brycefuneralhome.com website to share or send condolences, light a candle, view videos or for service details.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Melissa H. (Hunt) Gilligan, please visit our floral store.