Melody Kay Gitchel

Melody Kay Gitchel, 63, passed away unexpectedly on May 26, 2022. Melody was born August 14, 1958 in Rockford to Sally Doyle Burris. She graduated from Auburn High School in 1976. After graduating, Melody went on to work at Warner Lambert before moving to Alabama for a short time where she worked as a customer service representative for a local phone company. Melody moved back to Rockford and started working for a cleaning company. This job placed her at Camcar to clean where she ended up meeting the love of her life, Mike Gitchel. She then worked at Amrock until they closed their doors and she became a housekeeper for Swedish American Hospital. Her most recent and final employment was with Rockford UPS.

Melody married Mike on April 20, 2000 in Rockford. She was a loving wife, mom, grandma, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She loved her family more than life itself. Her favorite time was the time she spent watching her grandson LaRyan play football and being one of his biggest cheerleaders. She loved any time she spent with family. From painting with her sisters, eating with her boys or grabbing a cold one and kicking back with her husband; family time was everything.

She is survived by her husband, Mike; sons, Ricky (Bobbi) Brown, Jamie (Jenn) Gitchel, Johnathon Alexander Terrell and LaRyan Brown Gitchel; sisters, Debbie Fish, Leslie Burris, Darla (John) Vicencio and Bonnie (Darrell) Smith; grandchildren. Magdalena, Kama, Zaria, Maddie, LaRyan, Anaisa, Ceteva and Nathan; uncle, Jimmy along with several nieces, nephews, cousins and other loved ones. Melody is predeceased by her mother, Sally; grandson, Ricky Brown Jr; nephew, Scott Burris and niece, Lauren May.

Funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM Friday, June 3, 2022 in Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory – Mulford Chapel, 4311 N. Mulford Road, Loves Park with a visitation from 11:00 AM until time of service. Entombment in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Machesney Park.

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