Melissa Buono Heese

April 27, 1960 - August 27, 2013

OBITUARY Melissa Buono Heese died Tuesday, August 27, 2013 in Denver CO. She was 53 years old. Born April 27, 1960 in Fort Hood, Texas, she was the daughter of Captain Marlin E. and Patricia McManus McCahan. Upon the death of her father while serving in Vietnam she moved to Saugerties with her sister and mother, who later married Richard M. Buono. Raised in Saugerties, she was a graduate of St. Mary of the Snow School and John A. Coleman High School. After attending Lemoyne College in Syracuse, she moved to Orlando Florida where she was employed by Walt Disney World. While in Orlando she was a recipient of an Outstanding Bravery Award for pulling a victim from a burning truck on the interstate. After returning to Saugerties in the 1987 she eventually moved to Denver CO in 2002. She worked as a teaching assistant for Saugerties Central Schools and Century Middle School in Thornton, CO., was a math tutor at Valencia Community College in Orlando and taught CCD at St. Mary of the Snow in Saugerties. A Girl Scout as a youth, she was also an adult Girl Scout Leader. Melissa was also very active in the Right to Life Movement. In addition to her parents, Patricia and Richard Buono, she is survived by her spouse, Henry Herman in Denver; her son David Heese and his companion Sam Swart in Saugerties; her daughter Angel Heese in Kingston; her stepson John Hermann in Denver; two sisters, Lisa Osborn and her husband Jeff, and Bridget Sullivan and her husband Keith; two brothers, Patrick Buono and his wife Kellie, and Daniel Buono; grandchildren, Isaac, Jakob, Kaleb and Jayce who is on his way. Several nieces, nephews and extended family also survive. In addition to her father Capt. Marlin E. McCahan, she was pre-deceased by her brother, Richard M. Buono, Jr.. Funeral services are private and under the direction of Buono Funeral Service, Inc., Saugerties, NY. The family suggests donations in her memory be made to National Right to Life or the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America. Click Here to Donate to Right to Life Click here to Donate to the Myasthenina Gravis Foundation of America