Melissa A. Trauner Obituary (1968

Melissa A. Trauner, 45, of Bloomington, IL, passed away at 1:09 pm, Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at her home surrounded by her family.Her funeral will be at 11:00 am, Saturday, (2-15-14) at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Bloomington with Rev. R. Anthony Lee and Monsignor Douglas Hennessy officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal. Visitation will be from 3:00-7:00 pm, Friday (2-14-14) at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington. A private family rosary will be recited after the visitation.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Community Cancer Center 407 E. Vernon Ave. Normal, IL 61761.To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.Melissa was born on October 1, 1968 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Roy P. and Juliann Ryan Tinder. She married William J. Trauner on February 10, 1996 in Tacoma, Washington.She is survived by her husband and four children, William, Joseph, Annamarie and Eli, all at home; her parents, Roy and Julie Tinder of Gig Harbor, WA; mother-in-law, Clara C. Trauner, Speedway, IN; one brother, Michael (Chrissie) Tinder, Tacoma, WA; three sisters, Monica (Chris) Cosmos, Gig Harbor, WA, Maureen (Jim) Trauner, Elkhart, IL and Michelle (Bill) Youngsman, Seattle, WA. She is also survived by her husbands siblings, Marilyn Trauner, St. Louis, MO, Margaret (Charlie Robinson) Trauner, Durham, NC, Robert (Terri) Trauner, Chicago, Clara (Dick) Powell, Ft. Wayne, IN, Elizabeth (Steve) Brodnik, St. Louis, MO, Nancy (Dave Paul) Davis, Brownsburg, IN, Dean (Jude) Trauner, Indianapolis, IN, Phyllis (Randy) Marlar, Zionsville, IN, Jeanne Bell, Speedway, IN, Kathleen (Jerry) Bates, Cloverdale, IN, Eric (Tammy) Trauner, Ft. Wayne, IN, Jim (Maureen) Trauner, Elkhart, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father-in-law, Bernard Trauner and two nieces, Rosemary Trauner and Katie Bell.Melissa grew up in Gig Harbor, Washington, along the Puget Sound. She always retained a deep love for the natural beauty and majesty of the Pacific Northwest. She attended Gonzaga University and enjoyed a year in Florence, Italy, studying classic art and literature. She transferred to Seattle University and was awarded a bachelors degree in English Literature in 1991.From 1992-1994 Melissa taught English in a grammar school as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Hungary, where she met her husband, a fellow volunteer. She eventually settled in Bloomington, where she enjoyed the full and active life of a loving mother and devoted wife.Melissa possessed a loving, gentle spirit that profoundly affected those blessed enough to be part of her life. She actively volunteered at her childrens schools, regularly attended Mass, participated in the Sacraments and attended church functions, and enjoyed spending time with her many dear friends. She especially took delight in guiding and teaching her four children, and regularly expressed to them and others the great love and affection she had for each of them. She also had the strength and determination of a warrior, as evidenced by the courageous and hard fought battle she waged against cancer.Melissa lived every day with beauty, grace and strength of spirit. She will long be remembered for these virtues, and her children will always be blessed for having inherited them.