To My Mom

My beloved Mom, Michelle, unexpectedly passed away on August 17th, 2025. She was 59 years young.

My mom was my best friend, biggest supporter, and the kindest, most loving person I know. She was also spicy and fierce when it came to her family.

There are no words that I could ever say that would describe how much I love my mom, how much I miss her, and how much she was loved by many. But I will share these words:

My mom loved nature, gardening, music, singing, dancing, cooking, swimming, many forms of art, spending time with her family, and relaxing.

Some of my best early memories with my mom (and family) are planting bulbs around the roses in her rose garden and planting various seeds for starts in little pots for our veggie garden. Days at Pt. Defiance Park, walking around looking at all the plants. Going down to Olalla Bay (always “Al’s” to us) and playing on the rocky beach, swimming, soaking up the sun. Singing in the car & at home. Cooking homemade meals or jam on the stove. Doing arts and crafts, specifically around the holidays. My mom volunteering in my class at school; looking back at her in the back of the class doing whatever task they had her doing, while I did my school work. And her volunteering her time to the kids groups at the church we went to. Her reading to me at night before bed.

She was intelligent in more ways than one, intuitive with her thoughts and feelings, kind to people from all walks of life, and a guiding light for my family and I.  She let my sisters and I walk to the beat of our own drums, and loved us for who we are, while also bestowing her wisdom upon us to do with as we wanted. She loved everyone and was passionate about human rights & freedom.

Her love is radiant, unconditional, and warm. The kind of love that you can feel.

She was giving in her time, emotional support, care, love, experiences, and gifts when appropriate. She gave in many ways, unconditionally, with zero expectations.

My mom is also a survivor of many hard things she went through; she did not have an easy life growing up, and I will never pretend she did. When she met my dad, she finally had the safety she deserved her whole life. My dad gave my mom unconditional love, unconditional support, & unwavering commitment, which resulted in my sisters & myself being brought in to this world.

My mom gave me life. And then she stayed home from work to raise me. She dedicated herself to being the best mom she could be, and for that, I am forever grateful.

My family has had our own hard times. And that story is the unique one of our family that we cherish, grow with, and learn from each day.

I am so lucky to have spent as much time with my mom as I did (as we were very close and I know that is not common), even though I still feel like our time was cut way too short, as she was still so young. She is my best friend and has been there for me through all the good & hard times in my life.

I see my mom in everything. I see her in the sky, the stars, the moon, the clouds, the ocean, the trees, the flowers, and the land beneath my feet. She lives in me, my sisters, my niece, and my dad.

The last time I visited with my mom before she unexpectedly passed, we got a whole week to hang out, uninterrupted, for the first time like that in many years. We swam in the pool together and had a 4 hour conversation about so many things; I watched her smile and laugh and giggle and say lovely things about those she loved. That was my mom. We cooked lots of meals and food for her & my dad. And we just spent time, with no worries, hanging out. I gave her a hug when we left and planned to see her again soon. I didn’t realize it was the last time I would see her alive, but I am grateful that we had such a good time together. 

I will miss my mom every single day. And I will continue to look for her in everything, every day. I know she loves us and I know she would tell us to be happy; even though it hurts so bad. She was my biggest supporter and never failed to tell me she was proud of all that I have done and created.

I love you, Mom, and this will not be the last thing I write about you. You are loved so much, and never alone. Thank you for loving me just the way I am. And I Love You, More Than You Can Measure. And I want the whole world to know just how wonderful of a person you are and were.