Winter Park, Fla—Melissa Susan Jaffe, 61, of Winter Park, Fla., passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012.
She was born in Richmond, Va. and was the daughter of the late Bernard and Lee Banks Jaffe.
Melissa was employed at the Lakewood Center in Fern Park, Fla., where she was a well-respected member of the community. Previously, she worked in real estate management in New York City and as a market research interviewer in Norfolk.
She graduated with honors from Granby High School in Norfolk and majored in English Literature at Simmons College and Brandeis University.
Melissa enjoyed taking cooking classes, loved doing yoga and working with a fitness trainer. She looked forward to attending art shows in Florida and taking cruises with her Lakewood friends. Her treasured cat, Inky, was always happy to see her when she returned. Melissa’s adventurous spirit and her kind soul will be missed by many.
She is survived by her sister Karen Jaffe, her brother Nathan Jaffe and his wife Beth Cohen Jaffe, all of Virginia Beach, and her niece, Abbi Jaffe, of Underhill, Vermont.
A private family graveside funeral took place at Forest Lawn Cemetery, with Rabbi Michael Panitz and Cantor Wally Schachet-Briskin officiating. Memorial donations may be made to Jewish Family Service of Tidewater, 260 Grayson Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462, or La Amistad Foundation, Inc. 8400 La Amistad Cove, Fern Park, FL 32730, or JDC for the Jaffe Jewish Family Service in Budapest, PO Box 4124, New York, NY 10163.