Melissa Leigh Anne Arndt, born early, 2 months before she was expected, on December 7, 1987 left us very early as well on January 14, 2022 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. She spent most of her life here in Melita, working at Sub Factory and then at Melita Big Way before moving to Brandon to share an apartment with her sister, Haley. There she discovered the transit system and loved to discover which bus went where and it gave her independence. She also made many friends at the MCC Thrift Store on Pacific Ave where she volunteered for several years until Covid made it difficult. She also loved to look after her Grandma Carol who lived at Victoria Landing after suffering a stroke. She was always over there helping with whatever needed done and was loved by all the other residents too!
She was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2019 and had surgery. It was benign at the time and we felt we had jumped this hurdle. In 2020, Almost exactly one year later it had returned and a second surgery amid Covid was not so favorable. It was now malignant but we threw ourselves into radiation hoping for the best. In early 2021 we were told it was spreading and tried some experimental chemo which at the end of October proved to be not what we hoped for. Melissa was told she had a few weeks at best. She disagreed and said she was going to see her birthday and turn 34 and then spend Christmas with her family. She accomplished both of these goals and we will forever cherish that. She could be stubborn so when she set out to do this you just knew she would. It was time to stop fighting on Friday and she was ready to go see Grandma and Grandpa. She passed peacefully at home with her family. She was loved more than she could ever have known by her dad and mom and by her sister, Haley and brother, Dillon, nieces, Clova and Mia and sister-in-law, Cassie. Our hearts will never be whole again.
There will be a family graveside service held at a later date.
Donations may be given to the Canadian Cancer Society, 415 1st Street East Brandon, MB. R7A 2W8, ALS Society, 2A - 1717 Dublin Ave. Winnipeg, MB. R3H 0H2 or to the Kidney Foundation Unit, 1-452 Dovercourt Drive, Winnipeg, MB R3Y 1G4
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