We are horribly saddened to announce the unexpected passing of
Michelle K. Winger, at the age of 37. Michelle succumbed to
complications from diabetes, in the company of her loving father.
Michelle was born on
December 30, 1985, to parents Mark Winger and Judith Stone, in Lake
City, Fla. As a child, Michelle lived in Florida, New York, Nevada
and Louisiana before the family moved to Vermont when she was nine.
She graduated from Montpelier High School in 2004 and lived in South
Carolina and Ohio before giving birth to her daughter Madolyn in
2006. In 2008, she gave birth to another daughter, Sophia. Both
daughters, along with her fur baby, Kirby, were the light of her
life.
Michelle had a
loving heart and would spark joy in anyone she talked to. She was
outgoing and loved conversing with people, whether it was a grocery
clerk or a stranger in a store. Michelle had tons of friends, and
from the moment she met you, she considered you a friend for life and
would do anything for you.
Michelle loved
jewelry, and the more sparkle it had the better. She loved fishing,
swimming and scratch tickets (and was frequently a winner). Michelle
loved documentaries and movies and enjoyed watching them with her
family. When her mother started homesteading, Michelle loved tending
to the animals — especially when they were babies — which she
kept in her mother’s bathtub.
Michelle had a great
sense of humor and loved to laugh, especially with her two girls.
They would sing loudly in the car, act goofy and, overall, just enjoy
each other’s company. They were like sisters and would paint each
other’s nails and have frequent spa days at home.
She loved holidays,
especially Christmas, when she could shower the girls with presents.
Her excitement was matched only by that of her daughters’. Holidays
will never be the same without her.
Michelle was an
adventurous foodie and would taste and try anything. She especially
loved seafood, and every year for her birthday, she would ask for
shrimp Alfredo, mashed potatoes, and sardine bread that her father
would gladly make for her.
She was very proud
of her girls and everything they did and was quick to post photos on
Facebook and share them with family and friends. Michelle loved the
beach and had dreams of traveling to see the world.
Michelle is survived
by her daughters, Madolyn and Sophia Lee; her father, Mark Winger,
and his wife, Kerry; her mother, Judith Stone; her brother, Dallas
Winger; her grandmother, Jane Kiser; her aunts, Janet Bass and Julia
Stone; her uncle Bob Winger and his wife, Ginny; uncle Calvin Winger
and his wife, Nancy; uncle Brian Winger and his wife, Susan, and
uncle Joe Winger and his wife, Lana; and many cousins and other
relatives.
Calling hours will
be held at LaVigne Funeral Home, 132 Main St., Winooski, on Saturday,
November 18, from 2-4 p.m.
In lieu of cards and
flowers, the family would like donations to be made to the American Diabetes Association.
This article appears in The Winter Preview Issue 2023.