Melissa B. Cross

Melissa B. Cross, age 66 of Peterborough, passed away peacefully on April 8, 2023 at Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough. She was born in New York, NY on September 29, 1956, the daughter of Gordon and Helen (Stark) Cross. She was raised in Bloomfield, CT, and attended Nichols College in Dudley, MA, where her father was the president. She went on to receive her master’s degree from the University of Connecticut and spent many years working in New Hampshire and Massachusetts public school systems as a highly respected school psychologist.

Melissa had many interests and hobbies, including nature and being outdoors, history, theater, music, architecture, and visiting historical homes. Loving the sea and being near the water, Melissa enjoyed many cruises throughout her life, having visited Russia, Italy, Turkiye, Alaska and the Caribbean. She loved to swim in Cunningham Pond and the Peterborough Town pool every summer. An avid hiker, she regularly climbed Mount Monadnock and traversed trails throughout the White Mountains and the rest of New England. She also enjoyed walking and exploring cities on foot. Melissa made many good friends through her wine club, and always looked forward to their get-togethers in Newburyport MA. She was very close to her cousin Tony, who acted as an older brother. Along with Tony’s wife Ellen, they often celebrated holidays and special occasions together.

Melissa is survived by her life partner Joseph Cox; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Ethan Wiley, Andrew Wiley and Jessamy Kilcollins; cousins Tony Stark, Kathy Stark, and Leslie Wolfe; great friends Chris Reid and Nancy Sterling, and her half-brother, Doug Cross.

A graveside service will take place on Thursday April 13th at 2pm at Pine Hill Cemetery, Sand Hill Road, Peterborough, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Melissa’s name to the American Cancer Society.

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