Melody Renee Lietzau

With hearts filled with both sorrow and profound hope, we announce the passing of Melody Renee Lietzau, age 47, of La Mirada, California, a radiant beacon of faith and love, who peacefully entered the presence of her Lord on January 6, 2025. A graduate of La Habra High School, Melody’s life was a testament to the beauty of Christ. She had a lifelong passion for theatre and writing, and in recent years, she dedicated herself to authoring a biography recounting her courageous journey and struggles with muscular dystrophy.

 Melody was a devoted wife, mother and friend. Her willingness to live vulnerably and use her disease to encourage left a mark on everyone with whom she came into contact. She loved well and refused to waste one moment of her pain, intentionally using it to encourage and inspire those around her to put their hope in Christ alone. Melody’s greatest purpose and accomplishment in this life was her daily fight for joy and faith amid her prolonged suffering. She faithfully fought until the very end on this earth and now her faith has become sight and her joy has been made full in the presence of her Savior.

 Melody is preceded in death by her father, Thomas Leroy Smith, and is survived by her husband, Jason, her sons Noah and Jonah, her daughter, Hannah, her mother, Jill McKnight and step-father Donny McKnight, brother, Montey Baze, sister Kristie Baze-Loya and her loving in-laws Bob and Donna Lietzau. 

 A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 1st, 2025 at 1:00 pm, at Grace Evangelical Free Church of La Mirada, 12717 Santa Gertrudes Ave, La Mirada, CA 90638.