Michelle’s background includes Emergency Nursing, Parish Nursing, Palliative Care and Spirituality.  Nursing for over forty years, she retired as the Program Manager for Oncology and Palliative Care for the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance in Dec. 2017, after helping to design, build and open the 10-bed Chatham-Kent Hospice.   She is passionate about palliative care and caregiver wellness, and enjoys speaking, teaching and inspiring others.  

Michelle is the author of three books, including ‘Befriending Death’ (2009); ‘Embracing the End of Life:  Help for Those Who Accompany the Dying’ (2012), co-authored with Eugene Dufour; and her latest work, ‘Healthy Caregiving:  Perspectives for Caring Professionals’ (2020).   She is excited about helping the CPCNA expand its membership, and grow into an organization that can continue to make a difference in hospice palliative care in Canada. 

In 2021, Michelle was the recipient of the CPCNA Palliative Care Nursing Leadership Award, and was very proud and humbled to be honoured by her peers.  She was also the recipient of the Tri-Board Award for Excellence from the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, and named one of 100 ‘Alumni of the Century’ from Assumption University in Windsor. 

The proud mother of four grown children, and one grandson “Ollie”, Michelle and her husband Tom reside in Chatham Ontario.   They love to travel when they can, and enjoy spending time with family and friends.  She spends her time offering workshops and retreats days to various groups, while trying to make time for self-care!