Michele Wallace Campanelli

Michele was born on October 24, 1971 in Melbourne, FL, the first child of Robert E. Wallace and Fontaine M. (Athans) Wallace. Michele’s life-long love of storytelling showed early; she detailed the elaborate lives of her Noah’s Ark animal toys, while in the bathtub. After her brother David was born, Michele flaunted her early love of music and mischief by insisting he join her first musical band, a duo of pots and pans. Her first performance venues included the kitchen and living room floors.

Michele pursued her love of performance throughout her school years. She learned to play the violin early and later joined any chorus or choir that would have her. As she grew older, her musical interests branched out; Michele became the lead singer in Black Widow, an all-female heavy metal band. Their performance venues included local bars they were probably all too young to patronize. But they were loved.

Michele married Louis Vincent Campanelli, III, on August 8, 1998 in Indialantic, FL. Louis was the love of Michele’s life, a loyal and supportive husband, and her biggest fan. His likeness was a recurring character in many of Michele’s writings. After Louis’ tragic death in 2012, Michele remained dedicated to his memory. His prior profession as a juvenile detention guard became the inspiration behind one of Michele’s most popular published novels.

Even as Michele’s writing career developed, her love of music and performance never faded. She enrolled and studied music at Eastern Florida State College, this time concentrating on the classical genre. She continued with the Master’s program at University of Central Florida, ultimately finishing her education in Creative Writing.

Michele was motivated to write material that could inspire others, particularly young people. One of her early novels promoted girls’ interest and equality in sports. She later incorporated her deep Christian faith and wrote adventure novels around religious themes including the shroud of Turin. In the end, Michele focused her diverse talents toward a common goal; she wrote, published, and fiercely promoted children’s books that introduce and inspire the love of music.

Something Michele was most proud of were collaborations with the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra that brought inspirational free performances to many hundreds of young people. The performances featured Michele’s original children’s stories interwoven into fun and instructional orchestral experiences.

Michele was known for being cheery and generous. She sought out every opportunity to celebrate life and love. She gave freely and was the cause of innumerable surprise gifts in the mailboxes of those she loved. She and her mother, Fontaine, spread cheer by performing acts of music and comedy to residents at local nursing homes. Michele gave charitably to a Christian orphanage in Honduras by purchasing, preparing and shipping much-needed school supplies, essentials, and toys.

Michele is survived by her mother, Fontaine; brother and brother-in-law, David and Greg; and beloved cousins, Linda, Pat, Mike, Mark, Ruth and Nancy. She is predeceased by her husband, Louis; father, Robert; and cousins, Ricky, Emmett, Joan, and Ralph.

Services will take place at 2:00PM, Friday, June 27, 2025, at Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge, FL with visitation and viewing preceding the service at 1:30PM. A brief reception will be offered in the same location following the services. If you wish to honor Michele’s memory, she would ask that you donate to the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra or another charity of your choosing.

Though Michele lived a relatively short life, it was well-lived, full of compassion, gratitude, and peace. She’d remind you to always wait for and work towards happier times, and she’d insist you make time to celebrate along the way.