Melanie Roudette Grell was born on November 7th, 1923 to the late Arnold Roudette and Rachel Williams on the Commonwealth of Dominica. She was one of the last two surviving children of six.
Baby, as she was lovingly called, married the late Alphonso Siege Grell on February 17th, 1948 at the age of 24. He was a carpenter by trade and she was a seamstress following in her late father’s footsteps who was a tailor.
The young loving couple emigrated to the island of Aruba in 1949 in search of better job opportunities and adventure. They were blessed with ten beautiful children, six girls (Carolie Donald, Norma Valdez, Flora Grell, Claire Loverro, Rosie Rivera, Shirly Reyes, and four boys (Gerald Grell, Julian Grell, Dexter Grell, and Billy Grell).
Baby exemplified what the role of an outstanding mother should be by making her children her first priority at all times. She was very nurturing, molding them into respectful, compassionate, and loving human beings.
Baby was a woman who was way ahead of her time and multi-tasking was a way of life for her. She was an entrepreneur who ran her dressmaking and baking businesses right out of her home. She was loved and admired in her community for her kindness, her sense of style, and above all, her generosity.
Melanie was a deeply religious person leading her life as a devoted 7th Day Adventist. She read her bible daily and never strayed from her faith sharing her love of God with anyone who would listen.
In 1972, Baby and her children boarded a 747-jetliner and headed for New York, where she joined her sister Lorna Buffong and her family in the Bronx. She believed that life in the US would provide her children with countless educational opportunities which would undoubtedly enable them to look forward to a wonderful future. Her late husband, Siege, soon followed. Shortly thereafter the couple was able to purchase their own home in the Bronx where they continued to raise their family. Baby became a faithful member of the Smyrna SDA Church where she was embraced by a loving congregation.
Unfortunately, Siege passed away in 1991. Baby relocated to Virginia in 2005 with her daughter Shirley and her family to escape New York’s harsh winters. Virginia’s temperate climate proved to be the perfect remedy to combat Melanie’s arthritis and since she was an avid gardener she was able to find joy by creating a beautiful flower garden. Surrounded by her daughters Shirley and Flora, her son, Dexter and her grandchildren, Baby’s wonderful life was filled with love and laughter till the very end. When asked, “How are you doing?’ Her response would unmistakably be, “Oh you know, aches and pains but I’m holding on!” Baby finally let go hoping to see us all again one day.
She will be greatly missed and leaves to mourn her loving children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, their families, and her surviving sister Constance Morris and her family.

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