Melezandra D. Pipella

Our beloved Melezandra passed away comfortably at home, surrounded by her close family, on March 12th. Her last days were spent visiting with friends and loved ones and ultimately finding peace, having reached the end of her two-year battle with aplastic anemia.

Melezandra was born in Vallejo, California to her parents Ruby and Gilbert Lopez in the summer of 1954. She was the youngest of three children, following Mike as the eldest and Silvia as the middle child. When they were very little, Silvia started to call her Zsa Zsa, as Melezandra was too long and difficult to say. The nickname lasted the rest of her life. When young, her family spent many years living in naval bases along the California coast, then moved back to Salt Lake City, Utah where Ruby’s extended family lived. In Utah, much time was spent with aunts, uncles and cousins, creating lifelong friendships and cherished childhood memories.

In April of 1976, Zsa met Rodney Pipella while visiting their mutual friend at work. There was an immediate attraction, and they began dating shortly after. Rod and Zsa were married on September 16th, 1977 and were devoted to each other for 48 wonderful years. In 1978 they bought a small home and began to prepare for a family. December 1981 marked the beginning of motherhood for Zsa when she gave birth to their daughter Ale. Zsa was a warm, attentive and supportive mom and created a loving home and safe harbor.

Zsa had a great capacity to love and in November of 2012 this love only continued to grow when she became a grandmother to Leo. Leo immediately became the apple of her eye, calling her Yaya from Rod’s term of endearment. She dedicated a room in their home as a nursery, then classroom, where she and Leo spent many days together when he was small practicing letters, doing puzzles and just enjoying each other’s company. Her second grandchild, Adeline, was born in December 2019. Zsa took great joy in crafting and painting with Adeline and in showering her with many girly gifts.

Zsa routinely spent time with both her siblings and together they continued family traditions like fishing, camping and making home-made Mexican dinners. Zsa developed close relationships with two of her nieces, Mariesa and Christina as they became young adults. She and Mariesa spoke often, easily lending an ear to one another and conversing over life’s moments.

Zsa had a lengthy and successful career as an Administrative Assistant in several offices on campus at the University of Utah. Every office she was in, she easily became friends with her colleagues and created a more positive environment. Some of her colleagues became dear and lifelong friends, sharing many cups of coffee and long conversations over the years.

She enjoyed hiking and biking with Rod and their friends in their younger years and taking Ale on many outdoor adventures. Although she would never admit it, she was competitive and enjoyed bowling on several leagues with family and friends and playing Scrabble after family dinners.Everyone Zsa cared for felt well-loved. Zsa was easy to like, easy to talk to and a wonderful listener.

She was patient, thoughtful and trustworthy. She was kind, forgiving and gracious. Zsa was a beautiful person inside and out, she had great style and class and was not afraid to express herself with a bold lipstick.

Words cannot express how deeply her absence is already felt and how greatly she will be missed.

Zsa is preceded in death by her mother and father, Ruby and Gilbert Lopez and her mother and father in-law Ella and Mike Pipella, as well as her grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Zsa is survived by her husband Rod, daughter Ale (Chris), grandchildren Leo and Adeline, her siblings Mike (Kelly) and Silvia and her nieces and nephews as well as many cousins, family and friends who loved her dearly.

Please join us to honor her memory. A celebration of life will be on Friday, March 21st  from 6-8 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Guests are encouraged to use parking and entrance located on the north side of the building.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday March 22nd at 12pm at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 3015 E Creek Rd, Cottonwood Heights. A Luncheon will follow from 1-3 PM.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Family Support Center in Taylorsville, https://www.familysupportcenter.org/.