Services for Melissa Hosey, 44, who died Monday, February 25, 2008 at home surrounded by her family and friends, have been moved to the St. Thomas Aquinas Pastoral Center, Hwy 92 West of Indianola at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 29.  Burial will follow in the I.O.O.F. Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, February 28 at the St. Thomas Aquinas Pastoral Center, where the family will be present to greet friends from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.  A Rosary Service will be held at 7:30 p.m.  Memorials may be given to the family in Melissa's name to establish an educational fund for the children.

Melissa was born September 6, 1963 to Chris and Betty Thompsen. She graduated from Grinnell High School and continued her education with two years at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake. Melissa was united in marriage to Dennis Hosey on November 29, 1986.

She was a homemaker to which she said her greatest accomplishment was raising five children. Melissa was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer in 2004 at which time she began the battle for her life. Her spirit, passion, wisdom, humor and enthusiasm for life are unmatched by many.

Melissa was the owner of O'Hosey's Catering for the past eigth years in Indianola IA. She also provided numerous meals for the residents of Pi Beta Phi Sorority before leaving their employment in 2005 and going to work for the American Cancer Society (ACS). While at ACS Melissa was instrumental in organizing Relay for Life events across South Central IA to raise funding for cancer research. Melissa was a member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Indianola Country Club, Indianola Country Club Ladies Association, Bible Study Group and The Dirty Dozen Card Club.

Melissa was preceded in death by her mother, Betty Rubendall Thompsen and father, Chris Thompsen, and brothers, Art Christofferson and Dean Christofferson. Melissa is survived by her husband, Dennis; children, Kasey (Jeff) Hansen of Dawson, MN, Dallas Hosey of Notre Dame, IN, and Quincy, Madison and Denver Hosey of Indianola; parents, Rick and Sue Ford of Grinnell; six brothers, Don (Liz) Rubendall of Alden, Mark (John Fletcher) Thompsen of Monte Rio, CA, Jason Thompsen of Cookville, TN, Bob (Mimi) Christoffersen of Eldridge, Corey Ford of Des Moines and SSGT Carey Ford of San Antonio, TX; five sisters, Jennie (Rick) Dawson and Christie Weatherly both of Indianola, Dorothy (Fred) Steele of Fripp Island, SC, Mary DeHaven of Comanche and Cara Padgett of Grinnell; and three grandchildren, Jackson French and Kade and Mary Claire Hansen.