It is with profound sadness that we share the news that Mel passed away on September 25, 2025, at the age of 47.

She will be immeasurably missed by her husband, Andrew; sister, Heather McGowan; beloved fur-babies, Max and Blossom; parents-in-law, Anne and Quince Pigozzo; brother-in-law, James McGowan; sister-in-law, Ashley Pigozzo; niece and nephew, Kiki and Scott McGowan; along with countless friends, colleagues, and students.

Mel was never one to sit still. She threw her whole self into the many jobs and creative hobbies she pursued. Over the years she was a college professor, bookkeeper and payroll specialist, intervenor in the deaf-blind community, human resources officer, instructor for Elections Ontario and Elections Canada, volunteer and instructor for St. John Ambulance, figure skater and competition judge, and even a security guard—to name just a few.

While Mel wore many hats in her professional life, none were as important to her as teaching. After graduating from Durham College in her early 30s, she set her sights on being at the front of the classroom. While working full-time and putting her accounting education into practice by day, she devoted much of her other time to teaching with passion at her alma mater. Always wanting to do more, she enrolled at Ontario Tech University in 2020 and completed her Master of Education in just one year. Her dedication to her students was nothing short of inspiring.

Mel’s creativity and generosity shone through in her many crafting pursuits. She was always the first to send a beautiful handmade card. In the early days of the pandemic, she dedicated her time to stitching colourful and humorous face masks. Most recently, she ensured that staff at Princess Margaret received personally designed, hand-knit hats. Made by Mel always meant Made with Love.

The family wishes to thank the many friends and loved ones who have supported not only Mel, but also those closest to her. We are eternally grateful for the care and compassion shown by the doctors, nurses, and staff at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 2 North at Lakeridge Health Ajax Pickering, and the many other caregivers who touched Mel’s life.

Visitation will be held at The Simple Alternative Funeral Centre, 1057 Brock Road, Pickering, ON, on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 1 p.m., followed by a memorial service in the chapel at 2 p.m.

Mel often said she believed that the more bright, happy flowers that she saw at a funeral, the more that person was loved. In keeping with that spirit, we ask that everyone wear their favourite floral prints and bright, cheerful colours.

Directions: Please note there are no left turns permitted at the funeral centre, which some GPS systems may not recognize. We recommend preplanning your route to ensure you approach from the northbound direction.