Obituary: Melissa Dunster

December 4, 1973 – July 13, 2025

July 22, 2025

Melissa Dunster, 1973-2025

Melissa Dunster, 51, of Waterbury Center, Vermont, passed away peacefully on the early morning of July 13, 2025, surrounded by her loving friends and family, at Central Vermont Medical Center, after a long battle with illness.

Melissa was born in San Bernardino, California, on December 4, 1973, the daughter of the late Mary (Morse) Dunster and Alan W. Dunster.

Melissa graduated a year early from Harwood Union High School in 1990, continuing on to college at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont, where she studied Accounting and Business, graduating in 1993. After college she went to work for the State of Vermont in Waterbury as an accountant for several years before retiring.

Although Melissa never married, she carried her great smile, big heart, and her wonderful personality everywhere she went, with pride. She was always very big into her music, making sure she knew every word by heart, sending memes to friends and family as she found them scrolling on Facebook. Melissa loved shopping (especially for shoes, not one pair, but LOTS), and going out dancing when she was able to. She always had a very good sense of humor and she loved hanging with her friends and family, especially her nieces and nephews.

Melissa was preceded in death by her mother, Mary (Morse) Dunster, in 2015, her father, Alan W. Dunster, in 2023, and her precious dog, Toto.

Melissa is survived by her loving dog, Lata, her brother Alan W Dunster III and his wife, Taunya of Waterbury Center; five nieces and nephews, McCray Dunster and Cidney, both of Hartsville, South Carolina, Mackenzie and Kaleb of Barre, and Leah of Waterbury Center; five great-nieces and a great-nephew, and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles, near and far.

Melissa was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church of Waterbury and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Harry N. Cutting American Legion Post 59 in Waterbury.

A Celebration of Life for Melissa will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Central Vermont Medical Center (Office of Development, CVMC, P.O. Box 547, Barre, VT 05641).