KENT J MELENA

Kent J. Melena, 60, died surrounded by his family on September 6th, 2020. Visitation hours for Kent will take place on Friday, September 11th from 5-7 pm. We would like to allow all his friends and relatives to pay their respects to Kent in a safe environment. His immediate family will honor him prior to the visitation hours, and will not be present for a receiving line.  It is important to us that all who want to see him can do so safely, and you will only be in close proximity to those whom you came with. Please reach out to the family individually with prayers and final respects if you wish to do so. There will be a private funeral service for the family at a later date.
Kent lived a full 60 years. He was born on October 28th, 1959 to Betty and Frank Melena and was raised in a rambunctious and loving household. Kent attended St. Columbkille for elementary school and Padua Franciscan High School. In his early 20's, he collaborated to form Ladder's Unlimited & Supply Inc. and has grown the company to become one of the top ladder distributors and box truck outfitters in Northeast Ohio. He loved Ladders Unlimited and the community of friends he built through it over the past 35+ years. 
Kent started his own family in 1992 and raised his two children, Amy and Joey with Cheryl in Brecksville, OH. Their Brecksville home was full of love and was truly never empty. From hosting Thanksgiving to New Years' Eve celebrations, a homemade ice rink, and countless bonfires, the Melena household became the container for fond memories and endless laughter.
Kent loved to entertain and to create an environment for a good time.  Whether he was organizing golf outings, heading up a clambake or cooking breakfast for enumerable sleepovers, Kent always made sure everyone was full of good food and plenty of dad jokes.  He particularly enjoyed time spent on the water and there was nothing he loved more than waking his family up to head down to the lake for a long day of waterskiing and tubing.
In the last few years, he moved his love of boating to Lake Erie, where he spent countless days out on the lake with friends and family. Even a cancer diagnosis could not damper his desire to be at the marina and he spent many of his last months near the water.

Kent was proud to be a part of a very tight knit family.  Between holidays, birthdays and spontaneous pool parties at his parent's, he was fortunate to never go long without seeing his brothers and sisters.  He was happiest when he was surrounded by people he loved. 
Kent is survived by his two children, Amy and Joey, and his many siblings, Mark and his wife Colleen, Nancy Bennett and her husband Jerry, Michael and his wife Barb, Scott and his wife Jill, Donna Brickman and her husband Phil, Kimberlee Leach and her husband Jason, and all of his nephews and neices. He is also survived by his former spouse Cheryl, and his mother Betty. He is preceded by his father, Franklin Melena. 
In lieu of flowers, we encourage donations to Holy Family Hospice or the Alliance for the Great Lakes. 


 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.