Melanie Arroyo

Melanie Liane Arroyo, 46, of Manassas, Va., died Nov. 12, 2018.
She was born April 19, 1972, in Dale City, Va., a daughter of Aaron C. Fisher and the late Janet E. Fisher.
Surviving are her husband, Ernesto Arroyo; two children, Erin Paige Arroyo and Nathaniel Jace Arroyo; two sisters, Cristie “Crit” Johnson and Suzanne Rowe and her husband Won; nieces and nephews, Caitlin Sampson, Ryan Sampson, Jacob Rowe, Vanessa Arroyo, Nico Arroyo, Selena Arroyo, and Elias Barnes; aunts, Barbara Rack and Patty Cotton and her husband Bernie; cousins, Amanda Rack, Jessie Rack, Cyndi Zorloza, and Matt Cotton; and VIP friends, Michele Sheldon and Amy Catanzarite.
Melanie was the Deputy Director and COO of the Community Crisis Services in Hyattsville, Md.  Her organizational skills and compassion were a great boon to the company.
Melanie’s greatest joy in life was the two little ones she and Ernie brought into the world.  She was so proud of their kindness and how quickly they learned things.  She loved her little family ‘to Flinders’.  She loved sharing the day to day amazing goals her children accomplished with her husband and other family members.  Almost every day, she posted pictures on Facebook so everyone could enjoy and share the pride she felt over Erin and Nate.
She loved doing crafts.  She made quilts for each of her little ones.  She shared her love of crafting with her daughter, Erin.  Nate was just learning to do crafts, and Mel encouraged him to be creative.  Some of the crafts Mel and Erin did (birdhouse gourds, clay work, paintings, etc.) were entered in the Clay District Fair.  They were so proud of the ribbons they received.
They loved attending the fair.  They came every summer for a week so they could enjoy daily the rides, food, entertainment, games, and friends.
Melanie had a heart of gold but was very sensitive, a difficult problem when working the suicide hotline at work.  She could empathize with anyone facing emotional hardships.  Often, she would cry with them, but then find a memory or quip which would bring a smile to their face and ease the pain.  She would share her love of life with her sisters, her friends, and of course her family.
Her nickname was “Birdie”.  She got the name as a baby when she would open and close her mouth when hungry, but not fuss.  As a child, she raised doves.  Breeding them, hatching them, and enjoying their growth.  When visiting the farm in her teen years, she helped incubate chicken eggs.  All the babies that hatched were given a name.  She tied different colored yarn to their legs so that she would call them by their correct name.  She loved all animals.  She could cuddle a baby chick or duckling, pet a kitten or puppy, pet a calf, catch pollywogs and raise them, capture butterflies and release them, feed the hummingbirds, and just enjoy all animals.
Her greatest form of relaxation was to come ‘home’ to West Virginia, where the traffic was minimum, and the work pressure was off.  She enjoyed watching the turkeys and deer that visited her little house.  She loved picking the apples, raspberries, and blackberries that grew around her house and baking them into pies and cobblers.  She would ride in the Rhino to the high meadow, hoping to catch a glimpse of a deer, pick wild flowers, wade in the creeks, collect chestnuts and hickory nuts, raid the garden for tomatoes, cukes, and corn, and then sit around a campfire at night.
She was an excellent cook.  Lasagna, ham, pork roasts, steak, chowder, soups, cakes, cookies, pies, sticky buns, etc., all fell into her capabilities.  She was the official maker of ‘corn pudding’ for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.  She truly enjoyed feeding a crowd of family, friends, and co-workers.
Mel was quick to praise everyone on the skills they possessed but was very humble about her own gifts.  She was a loving mother and wife, a terrific sister, a blessed friend, and a loving connection to all her relatives.  She had a green thumb and plants thrived under her care.  Mel was gifted with the ability to express her heart through the written word.  She often sent cards, notes, and letters to show her love and appreciation of all those around her.
Melanie had a quick wit, and could make a pun, tell a joke, and enjoy life to the fullest.  She was always ready with a smile, a helping hand, and a hug.  Her memory will live on in our hearts and minds, but her zest for life will be missed.
She will be buried next to her mother in the family cemetery overlooking the farm she loved so well.
A memorial service will be held  in the Owen-Neely Funeral Home, in Blacksville, at 11 a.m. on Sat., April 6,  with the Rev. Freddie Eddy, II officiating.