Obituary of Melissa Rae (Sanford) Carter

It is with extreme sadness that we announce that Melissa, of Currys Corner, passed away suddenly due to a motor vehicle accident, on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, in Upper Rawdon, at the age of 40. Born in Halifax on September 7, 1984, she was a daughter of David and Yvonne (Frank) Sanford.

Melissa had a very direct personality and was very loving, kind hearted and always dedicated to those who needed her. She was a lean on me type person who loved her family, especially her dogs who were her #1. One of Melissa's favorite places to be was at the family camp, where she got to make many memories with her family and her dogs. Melissa was an avid sports fan, having played soccer, basketball, softball and rugby growing up. She was also an avid Montreal Canadiens fan, having just returned Monday from a trip with her Dad to Montreal to watch the Habs play the Leafs. Melissa was able to fulfill a bucket list item when she got to swim with the dolphins on a vacation. She enjoyed hiking and was thrilled to get the chance to hike in the mountains in Jasper. She never missed a chance to go kayaking with family. Melissa had just commented recently that over the last 12 months she had the opportunity to experience more firsts than she ever had before.

Besides her parents, she is survived by sister, Natasha Sanford; brother, Ryan (Sarah) Sanford; nephew and niece, Sawyer and Ayla; paternal grandparents, Grant and Eileen (Hood) Sanford; partner, Delana Keeping; step-daughter, Kyra Keeping; new puppy, Ozzy; former husband, Duncan Carter; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends.

Melissa was predeceased by maternal grandparents, Raymond and Rovine (Boudreau) Frank; special cousins, Tara Lee (States) Arenburg and Justin Clark; fur babies, Sadie and Motley, who passed away with her as a result of the accident.

Arrangements for cremation have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., Windsor (902-798-8317), where visitation will be held 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, January 29. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 30 in the Brooklyn Civic Centre, 995 Hwy. 215, Brooklyn, Celebrant Helen Lindsay officiating. A reception will follow. The family asks that in honour of Melissa you wear the colour purple (which was her favourite), brighter colours or Montreal Canadiens apparel. The burial will take place at a later date in Sandy Land Cemetery, Cogmagun. Donations in memory of Melissa may be made to your local SPCA; Maritime Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Centre, 39 MicMac Blvd., Dartmouth, NS B3A 4Y8 or the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia - Mount Hope Centre, 1120-300 Pleasant St., Dartmouth, NS B2Y 3S3. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca