Meliha Ergin Niemann, of Marshfield, Massachusetts, beloved mother, daughter and sister, passed away at home after a long and courageous battle with cancer, on September 8, 2016. The eldest of four children, she was born in Waterbury, CT, August 10, 1958 to Florence Roman Ergin and the late Dr. Michael Ergin. She grew up in West Hartford, CT and was a 1976 graduate of The Kingswood-Oxford School, and of Hobart-William Smith College in 1980. A member of the Mensa Society, Meliha began a career in the finance and investment industry and later transferred over to commercial real estate and property management. Meliha, or Lia as she was often known, is remembered best by those closest to her as an intelligent, creative woman and a devoted mother to her two cherished and loving sons, Lucas Cavallaro and William Niemann. Having been multitalented, Meliha performed in musicals while in high school and later spent time producing talent shows at her sons’ schools, diligently creating the sets, designs and costumes. Her creativity, evident throughout her home by her homemade drapes and exquisite Christmas decorating, hallmarked by her own hand-made personalized stockings which hang on our mantles every year. A lifelong voracious reader, Meliha continuously enjoyed novels of every genre. Her good humor, along with her creativity and wit, made her an incredible speaker, and someone everyone loved talking to. She will be deeply missed. Meliha is survived by her two sons, Luke and Will, her devoted mother, Florence, of West Hartford, her brothers Dr. Tahsin and Tarik Ergin and their wives, Colleen and Heidi, her Aunt Zana Assenza, cousins Jana Sullivan and her husband Danny, Jeffrey Assenza and his wife Lisa. Meliha also leaves behind a bevy of nieces and nephews: Casey, Bridget and Riley Ergin, Samantha Leary, Jason and Jeffrey Sullivan and Elise, John and Dean Assenza, stepdaughters Allyson Niemann Amend and husband Shawn, Amanda and their father William Niemann. She also leaves behind her loving canine companion, Pringle. Meliha was predeceased by her father Michael, brother Turhan and Uncles John Assenza and Altug Ergin. Meliha and her family wish to give thanks to her exceptional care team from Dana Farber Cancer Center including, Thomas A. Abrams, MD, Sarah Hammond, MD, Jennifer Lynn Irani, MD, and her primary infusion nurse, Kathrine A. Flagg, RN. We have been blessed to have had such a caring and devoted team who worked so dutifully on Meliha’s behalf. Additionally, we feel an undying gratitude to the caregivers from Old Colony Hospice, particularly Jan Lydon, RN, and Samantha Brooker, LCSW and all our home health care team. There are no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on September 17, 2016 at St. Peter Claver Church, 47 Pleasant St., West Hartford, CT at 10:30am. Interment will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, CT. Donations may be made in Meliha’s name to the Dana-Farber Cancer Center, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215.
Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com.