Michelle Lee Strauss

Michelle Strauss, 52, of Cedar Grove, NJ passed away peacefully on Friday, January 22nd, 2021, after a 2 year battle with cancer. Raised in Staten Island, NY by her parents Jeffrey and Paulette Strauss, she graduated from Tottenville High School and then went on to earn a B.A. in Marketing from Oswego College and an M.B.A in Accounting at the College of Staten Island, then going on to work as a Finance Director in the Advertising industry.

Michelle, the most natural people-person you will ever meet, made and maintained friendships from as early as elementary school that endured throughout her entire life. But whether you knew her from childhood or were a more recent friend, she would treat everyone with the same warmth as if she knew them forever, opening up her home and her heart equally to all the people she touched through life’s journey.

A travel enthusiast, she traveled all around Europe in her 20s, experiencing different cultures and meeting new people along the way. But back in NY, she met her husband-to-be Randy Strauss (nee Scheuler) in 2001 and was married in 2004. Planting their family roots in Cedar Grove, their circle was complete when they welcomed their beautiful daughter Saralynn Ruth to the family, who became the light of Michelle’s life. A devoted mother who didn’t want to miss a moment of her daughter’s life, she balanced working full time in New York City while still almost attending every play, social event or school function, often also volunteering her time with every spare moment she had. Anything to make the experience that much more special for Saralynn was her priority.

Her circle of friends only widened once she became a mom, welcoming a bevy of new “mommy friends” into her life. Always one to embrace celebrations with friends and family, she was known for her fun “girl’s night” parties, holiday celebrations (especially decorating the house!) and backyard gatherings. She was never happier than when she was around the people she loved, celebrating and appreciating every precious moment life had to offer.

Michelle is survived by her husband Randy, daughter Saralynn, sister Sherri Marks, brother-in-law Neil Marks, nephew Todd Marks, and her parents Jeff and Paulette Strauss, all who loved her deeply and will miss her greatly.

In lieu of flowers, two Go Fund Me Pages have been created to help start a college fund for Saralynn. Education for her daughter was always important to Michelle, and making sure that Saralynn goes on to receive a college education was a priority for Michelle, and her massive circle of friends has made it their mission to ensure that wish comes true.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/fundraiser-for-saralynn-strausss-college-fund?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=m_pd%20share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR3LEOACsTrATEvw_4T4u3TowtzQiheuRZqTSDJV2DDfq_F4Sd-hOMVvlBM

https://www.gofundme.com/f/StraussFamily?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

A Zoom memorial service to celebrate Michelle’s life will be held Wednesday evening January 27 at 7pm.