Effie DeMase Melville, 87, passed away at her residence, Monday, March 8, 2010. She was predeceased by her former husband, Joseph DeMase, her second husband, George Melville; her daughter, Vivian Salman; two sons, Joseph Jr. and Kenneth DeMase; and her daughter in law, Mary Ellen DeMase. She is survived by two sons, Jim & wife Rebecca, and Dave; a special daughter in law, Donna Melville; grandchildren, Stacey Pflomm and husband Mark; Ken DeMase, Krista McIntosh and husband Rob; Mary Ellen Russell; Jesse DeMase; Joshua Salman and wife Kristy; Lindsay Selsmeyer; step-grandchildren Rick Melville and wife Michelle; Theresa Regillo and husband Carl; Tom Melville; great grandchildren, Eva, Claudia, Isabella and Alexis; step-great grandchildren, Audrey, Grant, Jake and Max; and special friend, Norman SaIl and his family. Effie worked at IBM as a secretary in the Engineering lab before her marriage, at which time she was forced to leave because IBM did not employ married women at that time (1947). While at IBM, she was part of an entertainment group that visited Army and Navy hospitals during World War II. She was a Rental Agent for Hillside Management Company and later worked as a Real Estate broker for SaIl Real Estate for seventeen years. She was past President of Endwell League of Community Action; past Treasurer of Endicott Chapter Knights of Columbia Ladies Auxiliary. She was also a Hospice Volunteer for over five years after the death of her daughter in law. Effie enjoyed bowling, golf, playing bridge and pinochle, but most of all she enjoyed her family and friends.
Funeral Services will be held Friday 10 am from the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Joseph's Church at 10:30 am. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City. The family will receive friends at the Allen Memorial Home Thursday from 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy in Effie's memory may be made to Lourdes Hospice Program, 4102 Old Vestal Road, Vestal, NY 13850.