She was known for her zest for life, her infectious smile, her passion for hockey and the fierce love she had for her family and friends. Michelle is survived by her husband, Kevin Steed, her sons, Daniel and Ian Steed, her daughter and son-in-law, Gabrielle and Bryan Civils, and her grandson Hank. She is also survived by her loving mother, Helen Bohlinger Osterhoudt ‘Nana’.
Michelle was loved dearly by everyone that met her. She was always in on the joke and had the mouth of a sailor. She enjoyed spending time with friends and talking on the phone to loved ones. She was always there with a delicious dish and would drop what she was doing if someone needed her help. She relished cooking for her family and would often recite every recipe down to the spice. She proudly posted photos of her intricate meals online, but was not well known for her photography skills (or lack thereof).
She loved Fireball whiskey and the herb of the month. She was a wonderful singer, and was always one of the first people on the dance floor. Michelle was always inclusive and never wanted anyone to feel left out. She genuinely cared about people and always felt like the cool mom. She loved classic rock, hated country music, and would never pass up an opportunity to see one of her favorite local bands with her friends.
Michelle had a passion for hockey, and could never get enough of the New York Rangers. She knew every player by name and number, had endless Rangers gear, and would never miss a game. She found solace in her online community of Rangers fans. They found each other through their love of hockey and connected on a deep level. She loved watching hockey with her son, Daniel, and even went to Madison Square Garden to be closer to her boys in blue.
Most of all, Michelle was best known for the love she had for her family. She spent hours on the phone with her mother weekly, just talking about what they had done that day, sharing their thoughts, and maintaining their close bond. Michelle’s brother, Lee, passed away in March of 2019 and Helen and Michelle were each other’s rock. She cared deeply for her husband who she affectionately called Big Daddy, and enjoyed meeting up frequently for a lunch date at one of their spots in Cary. She boasted about their love for each other, their friendship, and they recently celebrated 30 years of marriage. She had a close bond with her son, Ian, and referred to him as her late in life surprise. They enjoyed lunches, shopping trips, and she would always make sure he had the latest and greatest video game. Michelle never missed a sporting event for her son Daniel or daughter Gabrielle. She was the first parent on the field, and the last one to leave. She loved being a football mom, a cheerleading mom, a lacrosse mom, a baseball mom, but most of all our mom. She recently became Oma, and couldn’t get enough of young Hank. She was one of the first people to hold him after he was born, and sang Elmo’s World to him any chance she could. He would light up when he saw her face or heard her voice.
Michelle was a fierce mother, friend and New Yorker. She enjoyed a nice hot cup of coffee and would take her keurig with her on even the shortest trip. The world is a little dimmer with her gone, and she will be missed for her wild spirit, kindness, love and off the wall jokes.
The family plans to hold a memorial over the summer to celebrate Michelle.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18