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Remember. Honor. Teach.
Melanie (Hamel) Napolitano, 72 years of age, passed away on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at her home in Livonia, Michigan. Always known as Mel, she was born January 7, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Millicent and Alfred Hamel.
She was the youngest of two children, one preceded her in death. Melanie graduated from Redford High School in Redford, Michigan. She married Thomas Napolitano on January 8, 1977 and raised two children, Amanda (Shattuck) and Jay, in Livonia, Michigan. Melanie was proud to be a homemaker and enjoyed cooking and taking care of her family. She worked at Kmart and Paychex, and had a knack for customer service and strong work ethic. Melanie loved being around other people and struck up conversations with people wherever she went. She was a loving and devoted mother, wife, and grandmother; always thinking of others' needs before her own. She always was available to lend a listening ear and thoughtful advice and loved a good long heart-to-heart. Melanie always had a song for every one of life’s moments. She spent her years of retirement taking care of her three grandchildren, Raymond, Gavin, and Harper. Her hobbies were traveling with her grandkids, cooking, going to music concerts, and spending time with her family. She leaves behind her husband, two children, son-in-law, three grandchildren, and too many friends to count.
A Celebration of Life for close friends and family will be held October 10, 2021. In place of flowers, donations can be made to Wreaths Across America.
Please click the red “Sponsor” button to purchase wreaths to be placed on veterans graves on December 17, 2022 at 12:00 pm at Great Lakes National Cemetery. Also, if you would like to Volunteer to participate in the wreath laying ceremony, please click the “Volunteer” button or click the "Invite" button to invite your family and friends to attend Wreaths Day with you.
Sponsor Wreaths
Volunteer
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Ceremony Details
Location Information
4200 Belford Rd
Holly, MI 48442
Click here for the Great Lakes National Cemetery Page
Directions to Cemetery
All volunteer parking will be off site at the Ascension Genesys Hospital located at 1 Genesys Parkway off Holly Rd. just west of the I-75 Holly Rd. exit. Signs will direct you where to park. Busses to the cemetery will begin running at 9am.The busses will be unloading and picking up at the administration building.
Assistance will be available at the cemetery for those who need help getting to a specific location
Parking Instructions
There is plenty of parking at this cemetery, so feel free to park in any available spot.Ceremony and Volunteer Information
We are happy that you are willing to help with our Wreath Across America Wreath Laying Event at Great Lakes National Cemetery. Please do not forget to register to volunteer! That way you will get all updates about the cemetery itself.
Here are some things to remember about the ceremony:
- Everyone of all ages and backgrounds is welcome.
- Please help ensure that all participants get the opportunity to place a wreath.
- Please follow the location coordinators instructions on where to place wreaths, as well as "how" they should be placed
- Please follow CDC Federal Covid guidelines while at the cemetery
- Remember!!! We lay these wreaths to honor our veterans. Please do not take or remove wreaths from the cemetery.
- We especially appreciate volunteers willing to help clean-up. Please check in with the location coordinator if you are interested in helping with the clean-up. Clean-Up Day is Saturday - January 22, 2022.
- Grave blankets, wreaths that are not from WAA or any personal items that have been placed at a grave site are not to be removed.
The most important thing to remember is to have a wonderful experience placing Wreaths to achieve our mission to remember, honor and teach.
