Michelle Lee Berlanga

ARLINGTON – Michelle Lee Berlanga was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 8, 1955, to Delores Joy Herrington and Bill Yant, beginning a life touching many and bringing mercy to animals she loved and rescued. Michelle's love of life, quick wit, compassion for people and animals. steadfast friendship and huge heart will be missed by her many friends and family as she left us on January 26, 2017. Michelle always had great stories. As police officer and student of life, she had seen and experienced a lot of good and bad. The bad, only other police officers would know, the rest of us spared from the knowledge. During her 17 years of service to the people of Savannah, Georgia, she collected the stories and city lore only a cop would know. As a child, she lived in Anchorage, Alaska during the big quake of 1964. As a young officer, she made it through Hurricane David driving her cruiser through it. Her wit was sharpened and her sense of humor tested by these and other events, but she came out of them all with a big smile and great story. After a time, she decided to make a change and she relocated to Texas from Savannah. It was a change of scenery and a new start. Texas seemed to agree with Michelle. She loved the people of Texas and their culture. She settled in and made a new life in Arlington until her death. She met her husband, Danny. She owned horses and the biggest mule around, and met a lot of the nicest horse people in the country. Michelle loved animals and did what she could to help them. She rescued dogs, cats, raccoons, anything that was hurt and needed help. It was a reflection of her big heart, though she tried to hide it with her witty sarcasm. All in all, she repaired the parts of creation she could, and for what she couldn't she left it the best she knew how. Michelle was preceded in death by her mother and father. She is survived by her beloved husband, Daniel Berlanga of Arlington, TX, an aunt, Brenda H. Thomas of Dunwoody, GA, an uncle, Edgar Herrington, Jr. of Lawrenceville, GA, two cousins and a lot of dear friends. We shall miss her. Funeral Services for Michelle was held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington.