Obituary of Melody Ann Jongema

With great sorrow and heavy hearts that the Jongema family shares the passing of Melody Ann (Smith) Jongema, 66, of Forks Twp Pennsylvania. She returned home to God peacefully on March 8, 2023, surrounded by her family and close friends. 

Mel was born in Belvidere, NJ on May 29th, 1956. She was the daughter of the late Horace and Beatrice (Merritt) Smith.

Mel was a kind and thoughtful soul that will be greatly missed and remembered for the many lives that she touched. For 26 years she persevered through unrelenting Multiple Sclerosis and faced more than her fair share of adversity. Her family and friends were in awe of her strength and bravery as she battled this horrific disease. 

Mel had a spark for life and always found ways to enjoy her family, friends, and the world around her. In her younger years, she loved to go dancing and ice skating. She also very much enjoyed art and crafting. With her husband Frank, you could often find them at antique car shows showing off their third baby, their Corvette. She always loved traveling, especially to their family's favorite destination, Ocean City, Maryland. 

In addition to her parents, Mel was predeceased by her brother William H. Smith and her sister Denise Ghetti.

She was the wife of Frank Jongema, and they celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary this past September. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Holly Jablonski and husband, Greg of Bernardsville, and Matthew Jongema and wife, Jenny of Bangor; 3 grandchildren; sister Mary Claire Lightcap and a brother, Douglas Smith.

On Wednesday March 15, 2023, family and friends may call from 8:30 am- 10:30 am at MacFadden Funeral Home, 325 Hardwick Street, Belvidere, NJ.  A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 am at St. Patrick R.C. Church, 327 Greenwich Street, Belvidere, NJ. Burial will follow in East Bangor Cemetery in Bangor, PA.

In liew of flowers, donations can be made to MS Society via this link.  https://mssociety.donordrive.com/participant/Mel-Jongema