Michele Patti Mills (nee Payette)

Michele passed away at East-Gate Lodge Personal Care Home. She had been a resident since January 2025. Left behind is her loyal, heartbroken husband of 50 years, Fred Mills. She is also survived by her children, Chris, Stacey, and Marie.

Michele grew up in Hartney as the eldest child of Sam and Greta Payette. She is survived by her sisters, Penny (Bob) and Nita (Blain).

Also mourning her loss are in-laws, Verla, Kathy (Trevor), Terry (Heather), Peggy (David), Tim (Joan), Colleen (Ed), and her many nieces, nephews and cousins. As well as her grandchildren, Colton, Josh, Destiny, Clarissa, Anna, Alexander, Zayden, Madeleine, Hartley, and Tyler.

She was predeceased by Sam, Greta, and her brother Ken; her in-laws, Jim and Marie; her brother-in-law, Chris; our daughter, Meghan; and her friend, Joanne.

Growing up in Hartney, Michele made many childhood friends, and as the oldest daughter in a family of four kids, Mom quickly learned the hard work of helping to raise her younger siblings. As a young woman, she moved to Winnipeg to work for O. Mondell’s for about a year. She started working at the Manitoba Clinic as the Head cook in their cafeteria. She then travelled up North with Fred and spent 1 year in God’s Lake Narrows working as a substitute teacher. Michele moved again with Fred to Stevenson Island for 2 years. Moving again to Garson, where Michele ran a home day care till our children were older. She was never one to sit idly by; she started working at Villa Rosa, where she aided new mothers and their babies. She also got the name “Baby Whisperer”

And then – the change in March 2023, a shift. Subtle at first, then more prominent, then debilitating. It has been heartbreaking to watch her fade from us and be forced to live away from Fred and their home. Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease. So many tears have fallen over the months as we watched, helpless, as her mind slipped, and then her body began to fail. She was in so much pain.

Michele will be remembered for her compassion, kindness, and devotion to family. I’m very blessed that she chose me to share her life with.

As per Michele’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and a Celebration of Life will take place in the spring and will be announced later. We thank the Sobering Funeral Chapel staff for their help in assisting us during this extremely emotional time.

The management and staff at East Gate Lodge have been outstanding in their compassionate, loving care they gave to Michele, as well as being there to help our family through such difficult times. In place of flowers or anyone wishing to contribute a donation in Michele’s name, we ask that you please consider donating to the Beausejour Hospital/East Gate Lodge Fund-Brokenhead River Community Foundation, Box 2225, Beausejour, MB, R0E 0C0 Or - ETransfer: brcf@brcfoundation.ca

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com