Michelle Darlene Bulda

With deep sorrow, we mourn the loss of the strongest woman we knew. Since her diagnosis, she fought to stay with us through unimaginable challenges, vulnerability, discomfort, and pain. She defied all prognosis declarations, choosing her own terms, on her own time.

Cancer took her hair, her physical capacities and autonomy, occasionally her memory, and grasp on the present.

It did not take her good ol' Southern Illinois gumption, her fighter instincts, her stubbornness, her deep love for her family, and thankfully, it did not take her wit. In the most unexpected times, her unabashed honesty would make you both raise your eyebrows in shock and hold your belly in laughter.

Strength was one of her greatest attributes. She survived a brain tumor, by-pass surgery, and the heartbreaking sudden deaths of her oldest and youngest sons.

Through her strong heart and mind, she was determined to survive cancer, even when told it was not possible. Although she left us peacefully, she fought until her very last breath. She was truly astonishing.

She joins her sons, Cary and Darrek, her mom, Margaret, her stepfather, Jim, her sister Lynn, her brothers Butch and Rick, her nieces, Crystal and Tiffany, and her nephew, Christopher.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Ross, her children, Candi, Marty, and Roschelle, her grandchildren, Courtney, Chelsea, Kilyne, Kaetlyne, Justin, Chayton, Aiden, and Jace, and her great-grandchildren, Griffey and Cash.

Thank you to her niece, Cammi, our designated family RN, for your unwavering support, guidance, and love, and for being there even when you medically should not have been. Thank you to Myron for your love and support, and for distracting our dad with sushi and Korean bbq.

Thank you, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Joey, for opening your home to our mom when we struggled with the system and were left confused, stressed, and worried about her care. Aunt Debbie, thank you for waking at all hours of the night with us to attend to our mom when she needed it most. Thank you, Uncle Joey, for distracting our dad with sushi (doesn't take much for him), and golf. And thank you both for letting Luna make herself at home.

Thank you to all of the healthcare professionals who treated our mom, and our family, with dignity and care. From the doctors, to the medical transport specialists, everyone who listened to her and attended to her needs with empathy and respect. Dr. Mason Liu, hospice RN Mabelyn, and hospice CNA, Emilie, were her, and our, favorite advocates.

And thank you for all of the prayers, love, energy, support, guidance, patience, hugs, wine, grace, and space, you've all provided.

With love and gratitude,

Ross, Candi, Marty, Roschelle, her grandchildren, and her great-grandbabies