Hazel Amelia “Nana” Mellon

March 20, 1935 – July 31, 2025

Hazel Amelia Mellon — “Nana” to those who loved her — passed away on July 31, 2025, at the age of 90. She left this life the way she lived it — surrounded by love and never far from family (whether they were ready or not).

Born on March 20, 1935, in Paterson, New Jersey, Hazel was the daughter of Adolph Schaus and Anna Westfall. She married Charles William Mellon in 1952 — the man who stole her heart and kept it until his passing in 2000. Together they raised three children while navigating the moves and milestones of his 21 years in the U.S. Navy. Over nearly five decades, they built a life filled with love, laughter, and family.

Hazel always lived with sparkle, spirit, and her signature sense of style. She retired after 33 years at Kmart, then followed her love of beautiful things and vintage treasures by working in a local antique shop well into her 80s.

She believed life was meant to be lived — and she did just that. She once danced in a summer rainstorm in her underwear with her giggling great-granddaughter, crashed a college reunion on vacation “just for fun,” flirted shamelessly with waiters in Italy at age 82, and was known to let herself into family members’ homes unannounced — then happily roll with whatever was going on. Hazel chased joy right to the very end, just last month driving herself six hours to her grandson’s wedding to witness their vows — and, of course, shut down the dance floor.

She is survived by her three children: Charles “Billy” Mellon, Jr. of Bainbridge, New York; Jennifer Mellon of Mount Upton, New York; and Todd Mellon (Lizabeth) of Clayton, Georgia.

Hazel was a proud grandmother to Christopher Philp of Albany, New York; Kelly Soroka of Mount Upton, New York; Brandy Soroka of West Palm Beach, Florida; Jeffrey Soroka of Schenectady, New York; Andrew Mellon of West Palm Beach, Florida; Patrick Mellon (Lauren) of Silver Spring, Maryland; and Nicholas Mellon (Jada) of New Bern, North Carolina. She was also a loving great-grandmother to Victoria and Isabell Craver, daughters of Kelly Soroka, and to Gianna and Amara Mellon, daughters of Nicholas Mellon.

She is also survived by her sisters: Deborah Toohig of North Carolina, Alice Cutterback of New York, Ruth Pettrow of New Jersey, and Marcie Jimersin of Florida. She was predeceased by her sister Joanna Messing. Hazel will be fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends who knew her as the life of the party — and the heart of the family.

Friends are invited to call from 2:00-4:00pm on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St. Sidney, NY 13838.

Hazel will be laid to rest with her beloved Charles at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, crank up Louis Prima like Hazel told us to and “enjoy yourself - it’s later than you think.” Eat the cake. Call your people. Dance like someone’s watching and do it anyway.

Arrangements are under the care of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney, New York.