Michele Bertone-Buck passed on from this life to her eternal home after a difficult battle with cancer on May 23, 2020 in Allen, TX with her family by her side. Michele was born on June 12, 1963 to Michele “Michael” Bertone and Shirley Bertone née Coradi in Painesville, OH. She grew up in Painesville with her older sisters Rosemarie (deceased) and Maria and her younger brothers Michael, Francis “Frank”, and Richard “Rick”. Michele attended Saint Mary’s elementary school, and graduated high school from Andrews School for Girls in Willoughby, OH. She went on to graduate from The Ohio State University, where she developed her diehard love for her Buckeyes. She remained in Columbus, OH for many years before dropping everything to escape the cold and move to the heat of Plano, TX. She was always looking forward, strong, and fearless, ready for something new. In Texas, she found her happiness and her career in Human Resources took off. It was meant to be, Texas is the only state large enough to fit that incredible smile that so many knew.
Family and friends recall Michele as smart, outgoing, loving, funny, generous, encouraging, strong, and brave. She was incredibly selfless, always putting others before herself. Her devotion to family, friends, pets, and chosen causes was unmatched. She was a tremendous advocate for learning and encouraged others with her words and actions. Michele gave of herself and her time to so many causes like Pink Soles in Motion, Legacy Boxer Rescue, Pride Rock Wildlife Refuge, yet always found time to make people feel special. Her nephew and four nieces adored her. She remembered their birthdays, special days at school, sporting events, religious activities, and never missed a moment to listen to them. She loved to have fun and had a youthful exuberance for everything she did. She provided great counsel and would challenge your understanding, to broaden your view with direct matter of fact chats but with a rational approach that many of us could take a lesson from. It was a talent of hers. She was also an incredible gift giver, no doubt due to her ability to listen, but was very uncomfortable receiving presents of any kind. Some of her favorite saying were, “It is what it is”, “So that’s that”, and be careful if you heard “I’ve had a bellyful of this and I’m done”.
Her hobbies were many--drawing, painting, calligraphy, metal stamping, or anything creative. Michele used her hobbies as a way to connect with others, painting with friends, or taking her visiting niece, Christina “Buddy” to make custom artwork. She seized any opportunity to do something special for someone. She liked all types of music but always maintained she had zero rhythm herself and couldn’t dance. She loved Aerosmith. She was a huge fan of Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, The Resident, Prodigal Son, Billions, and Yellowstone. She was an amazing cook and enjoyed baking - great meatballs, lasagna, and cupcakes. She loved Star Wars, Kendra Scott Jewelry, and Walt Disney World, she made an annual trip there with her brother Rick’s family and magically turned into a little kid. She would run from ride to ride, and show to show with her nephew Dominic. It was, as she put it, “My Happy Place”. She loved all the parks but the Magic Kingdom and Mickey Mouse most of all. She would shop, reminisce about her interview there, and talk of all the underground tunnels she had toured below.
Her absolute favorite place was the home she built with her husband, Robert Buck in Allen, TX. He was the love of her life, she was his “Punk’n”, and their home was a true reflection of that. The house is full of photos from their 17-year relationship, Texas rodeo memorabilia, and furry rescue animals. One of her greatest memories was traveling up from Texas and around the Great Lakes on the back of Robert’s Harley. He was her lifeline during her fierce battle with breast cancer in 2009, which meant so much more since she was so far away from family in Ohio, and he stood strong by her side. She suffered through so much to survive and “cheat death” as she would say, and Robert was there for her. They made it official and married on October 10, 2010. He continued to be her Pink Walker Stalker, Cheerleader, and Brave Heart Viking, accompanying her on so many Susan G. Komen 3-day walks for breast cancer, cheering her on every step of the way.
Michele was preceded in death by her father, Michele “Michael” Bertone; sister, Rosemarie; dogs, Beau and Angus; and cats, Nebula and Figaro.
Her memory and legacy will live on through her beloved husband, Robert Buck; mother, Shirley Bertone of Painesville, OH; sister, Maria Tomba (Joe) of Painesville Township, OH; brothers, Michael Bertone, of Painesville, OH, Frank Bertone (Julie) of Powell, OH, Rick Bertone (Pamela) of Dublin, OH; nieces, Christina Tomba of Painesville Township, OH, Ava Bertone, Francesca Bertone, Giana Bertone of Powell, OH; her nephew, Dominic Bertone of Dublin, OH; her furry kids, Lola, Duke, and Mossimo.
Michele was loved while she was with us here on earth and we will continue to love her through time and all eternity. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
In lieu of flowers, Michele requested you consider making a donation in her name to one of the charities below.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18