Michelle Anastasia Grzeskowiak

Michelle Anastasia Grzeskowiak [formerly Brown] passed away on December 21, 2021.

Please join her Family and Friends to Say Goodbye and Celebrate Michelle’s Life on  Saturday (June 11th) at 11 a.m. in Gorham Cemetery.

She was known professionally as “Michelle” but family and close friends knew her as “Mickey” because of her love for Mickey Mouse. Michelle was born on October 21, 1954, in Newark, NY. She was the oldest of 6 children born to Phyllis Mattison and Walter Grzeskowiak, who ultimately divorced, causing her to step up at a young age to accept the responsibility of helping to raise her younger siblings. This experience would guide her life’s work.

Michelle graduated from Marcus Whitman Middle/High School in 1973. In 1975, she earned an Associates in Applied Science/Human Services from Community College of the Finger Lakes (now Finger Lakes Community College). Michelle designed a Student-Initiated Major in Child Care and Human Services at Keuka College and received her degree in 1982. Cornell University awarded Michelle her School Age Care Credential in 1993.

Michelle spent her decades-long career managing many early childhood education and child care programs in Victor and Canandaigua, including at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center, Coordinated Child Developmental Program, and as the Coordinator of the Before-and-After School Primary Grades Program at Canandaigua YMCA. Parents praised the attentive care and teaching Michelle gave their children. She was thrilled to receive updates on their growth and development from parents. She expressed great pride in her former students when their paths crossed long after they had left her classroom.

When Michelle was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2006 her world was forever changed. In 2015, she entered care facilities first in Geneva and more recently at Mt Morris, NY. As a resident at the Geneva Living Center, she volunteered as much as she could by reading stories to the children at Geneva General Hospital’s Child Care Center, and leading group activities for other Living Center residents. She also volunteered with the Western NY Chapter of the National MS Society by organizing monthly support gatherings for people living with MS. Michelle lived her life with strength and by these words: “The course of my life has been changed, but my direction remains the same – forward!”

Michelle was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by 5 siblings, Colleen Grzeskowiak, Charles (Lisa) Grzeskowiak, Christopher (Sharon) Grzeskowiak, Mary (Alan) Ragins, and Damian (Tim) Grzeskowiak; 6 nieces and nephews, Tara Grzeskowiak, Brittany (Michael) Phillips, CJ (Tasha) Grzeskowiak, John (Beth) Grzeskowiak, Dustin (Caitlin) Grzeskowiak and Jamie Ragins; and 4 great-nieces and nephews, Max, Hunter, Anna, and Keira; and cousins, Nancy Watson, Dana (Ruth) Marquart, Diane(Roger) Marquart, and Darryl (Shelly) Marquart.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National MS Society/Western NY Chapter, 1650 South Avenue, Suite 100, Rochester, NY 14620 in Michelle’s name.