Araksya D. Melikyants, age 95, a long time resident of Glen Ellyn and recent resident of Elk Grove, died March 9, 2014, in Elk Grove. She was born August 21, 1918 in Armenia.

She graduated from the State Teacher's University in Baku, USSR in 1940. She taught English for 40 years throughout the USSR. In 1993 she immigrated to the US as a refugee with her daughter Karine and her son-in-law, Sergey. She credits the last 21 years of her life in the US as a gift from God. She was a long time member of Wheaton Bible Church.

She is survived by her son Ruben Melikyants of Elk Grove Village, and daughters Karine Muradyan of Chicago and Susanna Melikyants of Moscow, Russia; 4 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held March 11, 2014 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187, with a funeral service at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery in Wheaton.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.