Melecia B. Opelt, age 79, passed away on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, surrounded by family in her home in Bella Vista, Arkansas.  Melecia was born to Pedro and Dominga Dolon on December 15, 1941, on the island of Leyte in the Philippines.  Her family spent the next few years hiding in the mountains from the Japanese until the American liberation of Leyte.

She immigrated to the United States in 1970 where she became a member of the Strei family and attended college in Illinois and received her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Development.  It was in Illinois that she met her husband to be, Floyd Opelt.  She worked at Level Valley Dairy in Wisconsin for seventeen years.  After retirement she blessed the residents of Concordia Retirement Community in Bella Vista with her service for ten years.  She enjoyed gardening, traveling, and fishing on Lake Michigan with her husband and other family and friends.  She cared for many family members and friends throughout her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents and five siblings, Estrella Consad, Vicente Dolon, Aniceto Dolon, Basilio Dolon, Carlos Dolon; her husband's parents Arthur and Ada Opelt; and brother-in-law Norman (Mary Ann) Opelt.

She is survived by her husband, Floyd Opelt; brother, Gil A. Dolon and his wife; daughter, Margie Davis; son, Marlon Opelt; grandson, Brody Davis and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral will be at 10am at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Bella Vista, Arkansas on Friday, September 30 ^th , 2022.  Graveside service will be at 11:30am on Saturday, October 15 at the Neillsville Wisconsin Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory. On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.