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, Marcello D. Arriaga of Jacksonville, FL., her twin brothers, Maddon
& Leyton Velez and her brother, Riley Velez. 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, Amelia Velez 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.
