Michelle DeCosta Frank

Michelle grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona and graduated from Saguaro High School in 1988. She attended the University of Arizona in Tucson and became a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority where she made many lifelong friends. She graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences. After graduating from the University of Arizona, Michelle worked for the Attorney general in Arizona helping to establish the Arizonans with Disabilities Accessibility Guidelines before moving to Chicago to start work on her master’s degree from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.

Michelle met her husband Mike at a University of Illinois football game in 1996, they were married three years later on November 13th, 1999, and became parishioners at Saint Andrew Parish in Chicago. After obtaining her master’s degree from the Harris School, Michelle began her career working at the Illinois Department of Children and Family services in their Office of Litigation Management. She went on to work in fundraising, writing grant applications for Our Children’s Homestead, a not-for-profit organization that assisted in providing a family and home environment to wards of the State of Illinois who were severely troubled and had specialized health care needs.

In 2001, Michelle and Mike both obtained their real estate licenses, and they began working as a team. Michelle and Mike welcomed their daughter Julia in 2002. Michelle continued working with Mike until 2004 when their son Robert was born. After Robert’s birth, Michelle became a full-time mom and became heavily involved in all of her children’s activities. Julia started school at Saint Andrew school and her brother Robert followed. In 2008, they welcomed their youngest son, Matthew.

Michelle loved watching and supporting her children in their many sports and activities, including ballet, baseball, soccer, basketball, Encore Junior, girl scouts, cub scouts, drama club, crew, and dance team. For many years, on Saturdays, Michelle could be found hanging out all day in the gym with other Saint Andrew parents watching Saint Andrew basketball and enjoying Geno’s famous BLTs. She volunteered as a room mom for all of her children, chaperoned field trips, worked on the annual Wearin' the Green fundraiser and as a volunteer at the school helping with public relations, and the school website and social media presence until the school made her volunteer position a paid position.

In September of 2015, Michelle was diagnosed with stage 4 Glioblastoma and was given some pretty grim statistics. Her radiologist informed her that the average life expectancy for Glioblastoma patients was between 12-18 months, and that only 5% of Glioblastoma patients survive more than 5 years. Michelle didn't agree with that plan! She knew she still had a lot of life to live. Michelle was interviewed and featured in a video at a Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute at Northwestern Medicine benefit that she and Mike attended regarding her ongoing fight almost two years after her first surgery. Her radiologist seemed rather surprised to see her there in attendance and still kicking. Michelle felt tremendous satisfaction in proving him wrong and had no plans to stop fighting anytime soon.

For 8 1/2 years after her diagnosis, Michelle courageously battled cancer, enduring 5 brain surgeries, two rounds of radiation, numerous courses of chemotherapy, participating in a clinical trial and spending lots of time and hard work rehabbing at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. During her battle, Michelle gradually lost her ability to drive, some of her vision, the use of her right arm and leg, and she struggled to communicate effectively. She never complained and she continually inspired all of those around her with her courage and positivity.

She witnessed countless important milestones and continued making memories with her friends and family. She was able to cheer on her children at a wide variety of their games and competitions. She saw all three of our children graduate from Saint Andrew School, Julia and Robert graduate from St. Ignatius College Prep and Matthew start high school at DePaul College Prep. She was able to attend an alumni weekend at her Alma Mater, University of Arizona, and a mom’s weekend with Julia at Miami University. She continued her passion for travel with trips to Cancun, Jekyll Island, Toronto, Niagara Falls, her birthplace Rochester, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Washington DC, Vermont, New Orleans, New York City, Branson, Door County, Punta Cana, and to see her beloved Arizona Wildcats basketball team play in a tournament in Las Vegas. She also visited her family in Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Arizona. Michelle felt strongly about improving access to healthcare for all Americans and collaborated with Senator Durbin to protect coverage for pre-existing conditions under the Affordable Care Act.

As Michelle battled brain cancer, she continued to be an integral part of the Saint Andrew community, volunteering whenever she could. After entering hospice care on February 23rd, 2024, Michelle's condition declined gradually. In her last weeks, she continued to watch her favorite TV shows including The Voice, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med, and lots of March Madness. She passed away in her sleep wearing an Arizona Wildcats t-shirt surrounded by her family.

Michelle was an avid sports fan! Her favorite teams were the University of Arizona Wildcats, the San Francisco 49rs, the Chicago Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks, and Cubs. She also loved Mom’s nights out with her Saint Andrew and St. Ignatius friends, attending plays at the Steppenwolf Theater and seeing concerts with friends and family. Some of her favorite bands were U2, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Train, Taylor Swift, Billy Joel, The Eagles, The Dixie Chicks, Abba, Journey, Jimmy Buffet, The BoDeans, Daughtry, Coldplay, and Sheryl Crowe.

Michelle is survived by her loving husband Mike Frank, her adoring children Julia, Robert and Matthew, her beloved parents Raymond and Sandra, her loving sister Amy (Derek) Bebout, and many loving nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. She will be missed by many!

A Visitation will be held on Monday, April 22 from 4 – 8 pm at Drake and Son Funeral Home, 5303 North Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, April 23 at 10 am at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 3546 North Paulina Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, 541 North Fairbanks Court, Suite 800, Chicago, Illinois 60611 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 in loving memory of Michelle.

Fond memories of Michelle may be expressed at www.drakeandsonfuneralhome.