Born in Fall River, she was a daughter of Ernest and Muriel (Blais) Baptista. Michelle graduated from Westport High School and attended Bristol Community College. She worked as a Personal Care Attendant at Crystal Springs Home for Children for several years.
Michelle enjoyed all forms of crafting, building Legos, solving puzzles, Hallmark movies and was an avid reader. But most of all, she loved spending time with her family.
Besides her husband and parents, she is survived by seven children, Daniel Banks and his wife Autumn of Seekonk, Nicole Cherry and her husband Joe of Cranston, RI, Corrina Henderson-Tape and her fiancé Joe of Surprise, AZ, Julie Tape and her partner Tabitha of Middleboro, Mayzee Lamoureux-Tape, Heaven Tape, and Ozzy Tape, all of Fall River; four grandchildren, Lilah, Arrow, Coast, and Joe, III; two sisters, Jennifer Mathias and her husband Steve of Fall River, and Christine Carreiro and her husband Roberto of Acushnet; her mother-in-law, Jennifer Tape of Seymour, IN, as well as several nieces and nephews. Michelle was pre-deceased by two grandchildren, Remi Banks and Baby Banks, her sister-in-law, Julie Tape, her father-in-law, Charles Tape and her grandparents, Jeanne and Charles Blais and Irene and Ernest Baptista.
Her Funeral Service will be held on Monday, November 16, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Birchcrest, 189 Gardners Neck Rd., Swansea. Relatives and friends are invited. Burial will be in Rehoboth Village Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 15, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Michelle’s honor may be made to the family at https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-michelle-4hbwt?qid=87513e077e55d3e39614f751471a6f0f&cp_src=m.
