Tatiana Royal, 29, of Bluffton, IN, and her unborn daughter, Stormy C. Royal, were welcomed into the loving arms of our Lord, Jesus Christ, on the morning of Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
Born on March 20, 1995, in Bluffton, IN, Tatiana was the cherished daughter of Christopher Eugene Velez and Vonnetta (Royal) Zalac. As the eldest of four siblings, she naturally took on a nurturing role, which inspired her passion for cooking and baking. She loved to share her delicious creations with her family and friends.
Tatiana graduated from Bluffton High School in 2014, where she was a member of the softball, swim, and cheerleading teams. She then went on to study business at Ivy Tech. Alongside her interest in business, she expressed her creativity through hair styling, makeup, music, and dancing. Bilingual and deeply proud of her Chicano heritage, Tatiana embraced her culture with pride. She was also a devoted member of Hope Missionary Church.
There were those who held a special place in Tatiana’s heart, such as her Aunt Vonita, her children, and her mother. Tatiana and her aunt shared a deep bond, living together for four years and spending countless evenings having heart-to-heart conversations by the fire and enjoying peaceful naps together. With her children, Annah’Bella and Messiah, Tatiana loved engaging in arts and crafts and taking on DIY projects, creating cherished memories. Tatiana also shared a special connection with her mother, enjoying travels together where they embraced new traditions, foods, and experiences.
Tatiana leaves behind a loving family, including her parents, Christopher Velez of Huntington, IN, and Vonnetta and Shawn Zalac of Bluffton, IN; her adoring grandparents, Vonda Deus of Bluffton, IN, and Guadalupe R. Vallejo of Roanoke, IN, as well as her bonus grandfather, Charles Zalac of FL. She is also survived by her beloved brothers, Miguel Arriaga and Tomas M. Arriaga, both of Bluffton, IN, and Marcello D. Arriaga of Jacksonville, FL. Tatiana’s two cherished children, Annah’Bella Jo Royal and Messiah Amor Royal, will forever carry her memory in their hearts.
Her legacy is further carried by her aunts, Vonita Royal of Bluffton, IN, and Via Lee of Tulsa, OK, as well as her cousins, Vonda Royal of Louisville, KY, as well as Danetta Bailey and De-Jah Clark of Columbus, OH. She is fondly remembered by her nieces, Ivy Sutton and Verena Sutton, and her nephew, Gianni Arriaga. Tatiana’s memory will also be honored by her bonus dad, Miguel Arriaga, Jr. of Fort Wayne, IN, who played a significant role in her life, as well as her Godparents, Ken and Sharlene Honegger of Bluffton, IN, and her best friend, Taeler Allen.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, James Swearengen and Kathleen M. Vallejo, and her great-grandparents, William and Ermal Royal.
Visitation will take place on Thursday, September 5, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hope Missionary Church in Bluffton, with funeral services immediately following at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to an educational fund for Tatiana’s children, payable to Vonnetta Zalac.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Lemler family at Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends are invited to send online condolences to the family at www.thomarich.com.
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