Melissa Jo (Harmon) Bade, age 33, of Belleville, born March 2, 1989 in Hillsboro, Ill., passed away suddenly on November 7, 2022.

Melissa grew up in Nokomis, Ill., and attended Nokomis schools. For the past 9 years, she worked in Domino's Pizza Management. Melissa loved being around kids, and she had eyes that always sparkled (even when she was mad). She enjoyed bowling, was easy to get along with, never met a stranger, and always put others before herself.

Surviving are her wife Natalie J. Bade whom she married October 1, 2021; her parents Dr. Richard L. Harmon and Sallie Lee Harmon, of Riverton, Ill., her second mom Paulette (John) Knapik of Lebanon, Ill., her siblings Mindy Himes of Pawnee, Ill., Michael Harmon of Bartonville, Ill., Jodi (Juan) Resendez and children Isabella, Aryana, and Pete, of Springfield, Ill., in-laws Jayden Knapik of Lebanon, Ill., Shawn (Tammie) Baker of O'Fallon, Tiffany (Cori) Drexl of Golconda, Ill., Sara (Scott) Deschene of Bismarck, N.D., chosen sister Shellie Cook of Mascoutah, Ill., aunt Susan and uncle Lynn Hamlin, uncle Dan and aunt Lou Wright; several cousins, and her beloved pet dog Gizmo.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents Darlene and Robert Wright of Nokomis, Ill.

A Visitation and Celebration of Life will be 4 - 7 p.m., Sunday, November 20, 2022 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill. Come casual, as Melissa would want you to, and wear her favorite color: blue. Cremation will follow and she will be laid to rest beside her beloved grandmother at Nokomis Cemetery at 11 a.m., Saturday, November 26, 2022. There is a luncheon following the ceremony at the First Baptist Church of Nokomis at 211 E. South St., Nokomis, Ill.