Yvonne Opala

Yvonne Mardelle Opala, age 75, of Battle Creek, passed away Monday, May 12, 2014 at her home. She was born July 3, 1938 in Battle Creek, Michigan the daughter of Garland Stewart and Beulah Jean (Hawk) Sneed. Yvonne was a lifelong resident of the area and worked at the Kellogg Company from 1974 until her retirement in 1994. On June 24, 1972 she was married to Donald Opala who preceded her in death on July 19, 2005. She was also preceded in death by her father and three brothers: Ronald, Gordon and Jerry Sneed. Yvonne is survived by her mother Beulah Jean Sneed; three children: Gary (Penny) McMillan of Battle Creek, Vicki (Chuck) McMillan of Marshall and Annette (Doug) VandyBogurt of Grand Haven; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters: Dona (Dennis) Wagner of Arizona and Paulette Gunning of Battle Creek; and several nieces and nephews. Yvonne loved her dogs, Cricket and Trudy, enjoyed crocheting, working outside, camping and bird watching. She and her husband traveled to Gravette, Arkansas where they were baptized at The Shepherds Chapel. The family would like to give a special thank you to her hospice nurses, Joan Wentworth, Nan, Casey and Ashley for their kindness and care. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home with interment to follow at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to Oaklawn Hospice. www.henryfuneralhome.org

---