Passed peacefully away having lived with cancer for the past 6 years at the L A Miller Centre Palliative Care Unit on April 5th, 2006, age 43 years. Leaving to mourn loving and devoted parents, James and Shirley Hanlon; sister Paula and brother Jamie; aunts: Florence (Wylie), Marion, Lois (Jim), Gertrude, Joan (Frank) and Helen (Ed); uncles: Alex (Marjorie), Frank, Jim (Betty), David, Gary and Dennis; special friends; also a large circle of cousins, relatives and friends. Resting at Caul's Funeral Home, LeMarchant Road. Visitation Thursday 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Teresa's Church on Saturday, April 8th at a time to be announced. Cremation to follow. Flowers gratefully accepted or donations maybe made in Michelle's memory to the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre or the L.A. Miller Centre Palliative Care Unit.
(Obituary from The Telegram, St. John's, April 6/2006)
Michelle was a close colleague of mine from the day I started work in 1994. She was struck with breast cancer six years ago, and she spent all those years either in treatment, recovering from same, waiting for the results of tests, getting bad news, and going around again. It seemed as soon as the treatment was taking hold and she could work and travel for a little while, she'd be struck down again. She took all the setbacks and losses with courage and humour; we never thought she'd quit until about a week ago, when she checked herself into the palliative care unit. She must have known how short her time was... too short. She always wanted a chocolate Labrador retriever, and never got the strength to be able to have one. Lay down your weary head, Michelle; Lord knows you're overdue for a rest.