Melissa Williams O'Rourke

She was born here on July 24th, 1948, to Robert and Charlotte Williams, growing up in Mountain Park, attending Loretto and graduating from the University of New Mexico before marrying Pat O'Rourke in 1971. She worked for her parents at their home furnishings and design store, Charlotte's Furniture, eventually assuming ownership and leading the wonderful team who worked there until it closed in 2017.

We remember her for her kindness and grace, her moral example and devotion to her family. She lovingly raised three children in El Paso, including our sister Erin who required and received the extra attention and love that allowed her to realize the fullest possible life. She loved her family unconditionally and made our home a happy one filled with the flavors and aromas of her southern cooking and unparalleled dessert making. She lived her Catholic faith humbly and empathetically, comforting those in need and aiding the most vulnerable.

In her final days all walls between us broke down and the gentle distance she sometimes kept became no distance at all. She told us how much she loved us and how proud we made her. There was a kind, sweet smile in her eyes for us and humor to lighten our sadness.

Remembering that her son Beto had teased her by mumbling incomprehensibly when she first wore hearing aids, she returned the favor by speaking to him in a faint whisper that got weaker as he drew closer until, ear almost to lip, she broke out in a laugh knowing that she'd finally got him.

And recently, when her daughter Charlotte attempted to refill her glass with a soda that had lost its fizz, she turned to everyone in the room and said, "I'm on my death bed and she wants to give me stale ginger ale?"

She knew it would make us laugh because Charlotte has taken the greatest care of her, constantly at her side, traveling with her for chemotherapy and radiation treatments in Houston, literally carrying her on to and off of the plane back to El Paso, navigating the bureaucracies of hospitals and insurance companies, staying throughout the day and overnight with her in these final weeks, always reminding mom of how much we love her.

Melissa could not have asked for a better, more loving, more devoted daughter.

We are fortunate for the time we have been able to spend with mom and grateful for the example she's given to her children and grandchildren on how to live a moral, ethical life. Her beauty and grace, her strength through tragedy and loss, her unwavering love for us form the memory we will carry until we see her again.

Melissa is preceded in death by her daughter Erin (the Bear!) and her husband Pat. She is survived by her daughter Charlotte and her son Beto; her grandchildren, Patrick and Maximo Pearson; and Ulysses, Molly and Henry O'Rourke; her sister Patricia, her brother Brooks, and her niece Bonnie.

We want to thank her doctors and nurses, as well as her friends and extended family, for the care and kindness given to her over the course of her cancer.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift to Siguiendo los Pasos de Jesus (https://www.spjinc.org/).

Melissa's funeral will be held Thursday December 28th.

The Rosary will be from 10am to 11am at Martin Funeral Home on Resler. Her funeral mass will be given at noon at Saint Patrick Cathedral and burial will follow the mass around 1:30pm at Memory Gardens of the Valley in Santa Teresa. Reception to follow at Ardovino's Desert Crossing.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com for the O'Rourke family.