Melissa Hall Obituary

Melissa Conrad Hall of Farmington passed away peacefully on the morning of November 4, 2024, after a courageous four-year battle with lung cancer, complicated by a recent stroke. Born to Robert Haskins Funk and Deborah Louise Mack (both deceased), Melissa leaves behind her beloved husband, Henry David; daughter, Lisa; son, David; her older brother, Michael; twin brother, Chris; and younger brother, Dan as well as 8 grandchildren and 4 nieces, 2 grand nieces, and 1 great granddaughter.
Melissa was no stranger to resilience, having first faced cancer in 1982 when diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Her Memorial Sloan Kettering oncologist for the Lung Cancer noted that lung cancer resulting from the treatments she endured for the Hodgkin's often presents at 20 years, yet Melissa defied those odds, holding on for 40. She expressed immense gratitude for those four decades, filled with purpose and joy.
A dedicated scholar, Melissa earned an Associate of Arts degree from Hartford College for Women in 1977, a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Wheaton College in 1979, and a Master of Science in Chemistry from Saint Joseph College in 1992. In 1998, she was honored by the Quinnipiac College Sigma Xi Chapter as High School Teacher of the Year, a recognition that spoke to her enduring impact on students and colleagues alike.
Melissa's career began in environmental science, working in soil analysis to ensure that organizations moving soil did so in compliance with state environmental laws. In 1986, she transitioned to education, a field where she would make a lasting mark. She was an educator first at Torrington High School before joining the Connecticut Regional Education Council's (CREC) Greater Hartford Academy of Math and Science (GHAMAS), where her students frequently went on to distinguished careers, studying at institutions such as Stanford, Yale, and Johns Hopkins. A neurologist who attended to her during a visit to the Emergency Department recognized her and, after some questions to confirm his suspicions, told her she was his sophomore year chemistry teacher.
Many students wrote her notes of gratitude, often recalling her memorable lab experiment learning about freezing point depression by making ice cream. Another favorite was the "Candium" lab where Skittles ® and Jellybeans represented a different element from the Periodic Table of Elements students had to make molecules with toothpicks.
Throughout her teaching career, Melissa went beyond academics, offering guidance and a listening ear to those in need, whether it was related to an educational issue or a person one. Former students and colleagues alike often expressed appreciation for her mentorship, even years after she had retired.
In her personal life, Melissa found joy in many pursuits. Introduced to ballroom dancing by Henry David, she eventually earned the Silver Level award for several dances in a regional competition. A skilled jeweler, she sold her handcrafted pieces at local fairs. She was also an avid reader, delighting in book club gatherings with friends.
Melissa's love of the outdoors was matched only by her love of the ocean. Family vacations took her to the White Mountains and the beaches of Cape Cod, where she would dip her toes in the water and post a "toes in the sand" photo as a hallmark of her travels. In her youth, she hiked the White Mountain peaks with her father and brothers, and later, she and Henry David would take the Cog Railroad up Mount Washington.
During the pandemic, she joined friends and former colleagues for "Ladies' Lunch on the Porch." She remained close to her community and her family, always the warm, grounding presence for those around her.
Melissa's legacy lives on in the many lives she touched. Her students, friends, and loved ones continue to be inspired by her passion, kindness, and strength. Her impact on the world will carry forward, as those she taught and nurtured pass on her lessons to the generations to come.
A Celebration of Melissa's life will be planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the American Cancer Society, https://donate.cancer.org/ or mailing, P.O. Box 280285, East Hartford, CT 06128.
For online memories and condolence, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com