Obituary of Michelle Stanley

July 31, 1934 – May 21, 2026

Allow the light and the healing presence of Christ to shine

brightly through your lives. In that way, all those who come in

contact with you will discover the loving kindness of God.”

— St. Pope John Paul II

At the age of 91, on Thursday May 21, 2026, after a brief illness, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many, Michelle Stanley passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family at Lisaard House Hospice in Cambridge, Ontario.

Michelle Thivierge was born on July 31st, 1934, in Quebec City, the second of seven children. The family moved to Cochrane, Ontario where she eventually met Bud Stanley, her future husband of 70 years. Married life also brought her to Sturgeon Falls, Kitchener, New Hamburg and Waterloo.

Michelle is survived by six children - Brian Stanley (Manon Guerin), Karen Vanderkruk (Andrew), Lynn Stanley (EJ Bauer), Jeffrey Stanley (Christine), Greg Stanley-Horn (Diane), Kevin Stanley (Snezna Djakovic). She was grandmother to 12 children and great grandmother to 12 more. Sadly, Michelle was predeceased by her husband Bud Stanley and her eldest son Lew Stanley (Kristen Kielty).

Throughout her joyful, adventure-filled life, Michelle’s humour and unwavering compassion lit up the lives of her family and friends. For her children, she was a rock of tireless support and enthusiastic encouragement who inspired and nurtured a keen sense of ambition and purpose. It was our mother who gave us the confidence that we were capable of great things and it was our father who showed us how great things could be achieved through tenacity and good will.

In Cochrane, Ontario, on June 5, 1953, in the hours leading up to her wedding, her fiancee Bud, let her know that it was not too late to back out. That thought came not out of lack of love, rather, how were two people of such different worlds ever to be able to “make it”.  He, an anglophone protestant, and her, a French-Canadian catholic. She did not flinch. Their honeymoon took them to downtown Detroit where they both enjoyed its restaurants, sights and sounds and even a baseball game at Tiger Stadium. They shared a love of baseball. To Bud, Michelle became his tender loving “Mike”, for 70 years.

The following year, Michelle gave birth to their first son, Lewis. Similar to Michelle, Lew exhibited a love for sports and competition. In the mix was card playing too. In the last few months of Lew’s battle with cancer, he, being mobility reduced, helped Michelle “get with the times”. At 86, she bought her first electronic tablet. Through Face Time and an App, the two played virtual Bridge - he from Cornwall and her from Waterloo. Family time.

During her life, Michelle was a “sapeuse” - a female dandy or fine dresser - an avid globe trotter, an passionate card player, the comptroller and bookkeeper of the finances for a family of 9, a master couturier, both a tennis player and spectator (she loved Federer; hated Djokovic), a skilled bowler, a patient solution finder, a lover of music (Andrea Bocelli, Andre Rieu), an ardent reader of mystery novels and a devoted Blue Jays fan (Kevin, her youngest son, visited her regularly to watch the Jays). 

At 90, with a chronic leg pain, Michelle cancelled what she figured would have been her last big vacation. It was to be a Baltic cruise with Karen, her third eldest child, her beloved travelling companion of several years. Not ready to see his Mom stop her travelling days, Greg, her 6th child, figured she might have one trip left in her. He organized a special Mediterranean trip just for her, inviting all of her children and their spouses. Of the two weeks, one would be on a catamaran (she called it a “catamarangue”). Michelle quickly recognized that there was work to do before the trip. So, for the months leading up to the trip, like any athlete, she trained. So, this 90 year old great grandmother jumped on her exercise bike, peddling at least an hour a day until the day of her trip. This all paid off; it kept her leg pain at bay. So much so, that she even took a swim off the back of the catamaran, in the blue waters of the Mediterranean, just near Capri.

Michelle loved Christmas. For 2025, she sewed gifts and prepared her traditional French-Canadian tourtieres for the entire family. Sadly, it was in December that Michelle learned of advanced cancers consuming her body. The unknown was the prognosis, which she would have to wait for. She chose not to crawl under a rock, nor feel sorry for herself. While awaiting the prognosis, she called her travelling buddy, Karen, and in no time they were in the Caribbean on a 2 week ship cruise. As a surprise, her 4^th eldest child, Lynn, joined them, with her husband EJ, for the cruise. Family time.

Upon her return, she was told she had a few months to live, not years. At a family gathering at Easter she took the opportunity to express her heartfelt adieux’s to her entire family. A few weeks later, she was admitted to Lisaard House, a wonderful hospice in a fairytale setting. She spent her days there receiving family and friends’ visits, enjoying chocolate ice cream, homemade soup, coloring, playing Chrominos and Yahtzee and with her walker, took walks both indoors in the hallways and outdoors on a loop around the building. She felt very special and fortunate being there.

Michelle seemed to spend her life in perpetual motion. Did this woman ever stop moving? No, even in death, she’s likely still in motion, this time, moving upwards, to be with her loved one’s, Bud and Lew.

PS…. To me, Brian, son #2, I anticipated the end of life journey as a sad one. From the start, we all know the ending. Sad yes, but yet so joyful and enriching. Thank you to Madeleine, Michelle’s younger sister, and the oh so awesome staff at Lisaard House for accompanying Michelle and us too, along that special journey.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 10 a.m. at St. Agatha Parrish, 1839 Notre Dame Drive, St. Agatha, Ontario. Family will come together for a celebration of her life afterwards. 

In lieu of flowers, condolences for the family and donations can be made in Michelle’s memory to Lisaard House Hospice, the Canadian Cancer Society or the House of Friendship may be arranged through the funeral home at 519-745-8445 or at www.erbgood.com.