Hello to everyone who has been following Michelle and Andy Ray's blog for the past 2 years. We all wanted to send a somewhat final installment of Michelle's cancer saga. She returned from Denver the last of September and we had seven weeks of quality time to share with her. She became gradually weaker but did not complain much of pain until Friday, November 7th when she suddenly began to have great pain in her neck and the back of her head. The pain intensified during the next week; fortunately it could be controlled with medication. She passed away at home very peacefully with Andy Ray by her side at 11:58 pm November 14th. Her funeral is arranged for 10:00 am on Wednesday, November 19th.
We are all so very grateful for each and every letter of encouragment, and all your thoughts and prayers that have been sent this way these past years. It has meant millions to each of us. Thank you so much from Michelle's family... Andy, Wayne, Wanda, Shawna, Brent and Tiffany.
49 comments:
Our thoughts and prayers go out to each and everyone of you in such a difficult time. Goodbyes are never easy. We are thankful that because she maintained her relationship with God, we will have the opportunity to see her again in Heaven. Please know, our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to each and everyone of you.
Her example has inspired all of us to keep on keeping on.
Laurel
Thanks so much for sharing a concluding post for Michelle. I'm reminded of what we heard at Ken L.'s funeral....when the sun is setting in one part of the world, it is rising in another. This seems like such a sunset hour to us.......but for Michelle it is the sunrise of her eternal day. Our love to you all
Caring thoughts coming from
Wisconsin. We have followed a bit of your journey through this blog and want to know our hearts hold you close.
Thank you for your final posting here. We will miss checking this blog every week for news and great inspiration. The inspiration will live on in our memories of her attitude and spirit during the battle. I am quite certain that given the same situation I wouldn't have faced it with near the grace and courage that she did. It was truly a sight to behold.
We walk beside you and feel a portion of your loss and want to be a help where we can. It is good to have our perspective on life changed to view eternity's shores.
I just wanted to tell you how sorry we are to hear of Michelle's passing. Although her body is free of pain and sickness, it doesn't make the sorrow you are feeling any less painful. You will only be seperated by your time left on this earth. I also wanted to let you know that I have shared this sad news with some of our classmates from RHS. I had forwarded the blog to some of our former classmates and knew that they were following this blog faithfully. Thank you for sharing your journey with all of us! You are all in our prayers.
Nicole, Scott and Cameron Schoening
Our thoughts and prayers are with you also at this time of loss...loss of a dear wife, daughter, sister, and friend. Michelle was an inspiration to many in her struggle with cancer. It's so nice to know that even though the struggle in this life is over, she got the victory...and like C&H mentioned it's the sunrise of her eternal day.
Dear folks, I to want to thank you for updating the blog. I also want you to know that you have been in our thoughts and prayers through this hard time. Michelle was such an inspiriation and an encouragement to us all as each of you are, too. We are grateful that we can trust in the God of hope, love, peace and joy that he can and will draw near and be a comfort to each of you that held Michelle so dear to your hearts. Linda L
I love you all very much! You are always close in thought and prayer.
I am thankful to have had the opportunity to know of Michelle through this blog . . . and have had her life influence mine even though we've never met face-to-face. She will be so missed . . . but now she is so safe . . . counted in . . . I am thankful for her example of courage on the front line and of her complete trust in God and His will for her life. You are all in our prayers . . . Michelle.
Thinking of you all tonight. Love, Beth & Nick
My heart hurts for all of you in losing dear Michelle, yet her deep faith and courage in facing such a battle, speaks very loudly and will continue to speak long into the future. I have felt much help and inspiration from her attitude and example even though I wasn't at "home" to see her during this whole sickness. One is so thankful God's comfort reaches deep even when words can't begin to express the feelings. With much care....
Michelle touched more lives than you may ever know. Her ability (or willingness) to look at the brighter side of each new challenge was so uplifting to those of us who were observing from a distance. I know that your hearts are broken with this loss and we weep for you. I won't forget her soon.
Thanks for the concluding post with regards to Michelle's last days - and as others have said -- all of you have been in our thoughts and we are glad Michelle's struggles are over and for the testimony she left for us to learn from. We know the Lord will draw near to all of you at this time and you can rest in His care. From some of your friends in Wisconsin - Marv & Minnie
Andy, Wayne, Wanda, Brent, Shawna & Tiffany,
Heartfelt thanks for this final post on Michelle's blog--something I honestly hoped to never see, but I'm glad her struggle is over. Without even knowing her other than through the words and pictures she's posted these past 2 years, when word came that she had died I felt like I had just lost a very dear friend. I love the bonds we have in God's family that are real and precious and that are not hindered by such barriers as never having met face to face! Thoughts will be with you on Wednesday and in the coming days.
With love,
a california friend
Deena & Pete Chavez
The news came to me via the Bay Area here in California. I don't know you folks personally but know some folks you know (the Farnells) and I can't remember how I even found this blog. I have been humbled and inspired, encouraged and touched, by this journey. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all, and we surely all prayed for a different outcome. May God be with you.
Will be thinking of all of you, especially in the coming days. May you find strength in the Comforter.
We were so sorry to hear the news Saturday, but relieved that her battle is over and she can go on to something so much better. It's such a comfort to know how many lives she touched in her short time here, even those she didn't even know were looking on.
You are in our thoughts.
Craig, Jocelyn and girls
Dear Family, Thank you so much for your post! Like others have said, Michelle's blog has been such an inspiration. She has touched so many lives. Probably more than any of us will know. I've been honored and humbled to been acquainted with her this way, and our very deepest sympathies go out to you all. We rejoice over the evidence of a life well lived. Hymn #294 came to me this morning after reading your post. "A life of overcoming". I am in awe once again of the ties that bind the Lords people together throughout the world!
With love to you all.
Thank you so much for the update. Even though I never personally met Michelle, she has been a shining light to me. I have thought about her often.
All of her family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Jenny K in MN
Thinking of you all with love and care. From the friends and workers in Sweden and Finland
Our thoughts and prayers are with you -- she'll be missed. Love from Shaun, Helen, Nolan, and Hannah
Dear Friends, our hearts are all beating in unison, and we hope you can feel the throb of loving care!
I am SO glad Carol and Harold reminded us of what was spoken at Kenneth's funeral...What a wonderful comfort!
Praying for you...
Love,
Don and Jeanie
Thank you for this final post. We have visited here many times over the past months and been deeply touched. We are so thankful to have shared a little in Michelle's outlook on this life and to have witnessed, in some measure, her faithful entrance into eternity. Our thoughts are with you all. Love, Keith and Melinda
Thoughts and prayers to you all! I've been checking compulsively lately for an update - thank you for sharing.
We heard at a funeral last week that another shield had been hung in victory for God's kingdom, I thought of that again when I heard of Michelle's passing. I was thinking that although it seems that her natural life was short, it was not in vain - she touched and encouraged many lives. She will be very missed. Thinking of you at this time, from WI - Theo & Sarah
Thank you for this final post. For those of us that have been following Michelle and Andy Ray's journey from afar through this blog, this final message was so emotional for me, but so comforting and reassuring that there is a divine reward for our journey here- It brought tears to my eyes. I am glad she is at peace and with her heavenly father. Thinking of and praying for your comfort! Sara and Ben Mahoney- Edgar, Montana
So sorry to hear of your loss. What a comfort it must be to know that her struggle is over and a new day has dawned. She has gained for her soul God's best. What a battle she fought and it was she, not cancer, that won. May you all know better days ahead.
Dear Friends, Our hearts are with you these days. So thankful for the little time we had with Michelle and so appreciate the beautiful spirit she kept. Will keep you in our prayers...
Our love,
Brian, Erin, Connor, Ty & Logan (WI)
Dear Andy, Wayne, Wanda, Brent, Shawna, and Tiffany...I was sorry to hear about Michelle's death. I had hoped that she could be one of the "Lucky" ones. Then I realized that she is, because now she is forever at peace. May God comfort you all. Chari Martin (Jen's mom)
Along with others we want to add our thanks for your last post on Michelle's blog. Her life reached across time and space to touch so many and drew God's family here on earth closer. Here are some words about her that I posted on my blog:
Michelle has slipped away from us into eternity.
She left a shining example amid such agony.
Her family and friends are grieving on this day,
Their spirits groan; they have no words to say.
Comfort all who mourn the passing of this soul,
She's released from suffering and has reached her goal.
She touched the lives of many...some she never met;
Inspiring by her attitude no matter what beset.
Her spirit knew no bounds, she freely shared her life.
Her faith was strong throughout the hardest strife.
Bravely fighting until she could fight no more,
Resigned she trusted God and walked through Heaven's door.
She is gone, but not forgotten. We all share in your sorrow. May the God of all comfort, comfort your hearts at this difficult time.
Andy and Patty Rosehill
It's many years since I last saw Michelle or any of her family, but what I remember, and hear yet from my mom (Pat Dimzoff) is that faith is alive and thriving. For that I'm very thankful and assured that God is drawing very nigh to comfort and give the blessing. My heartfelt sympathy to you all.
SO thankful we had the privilege of knowing Michelle and the inspiration she was to so many of us. Now we think of you, the family she loved, facing the emptiness of her being but so thankful for the great Comforter and knowing she always put first things first and thus had such a beautiful life! Her influence will live on and know you have many wonderful memories to make your days bearable!! Our Love and Care, Garland and Lorna
Our thoughts, prayers,and hearts are with you all. We have been deeply touched by Michelle's spirt through her battle. Like others, thank-you for the concluding post.
With Much Love,
Byron,Kerry,Weston and Maria Cronk
This final post couldn't have been easy nor is the loss easy but we are inspired by a life that knew a Godly influence and that fragrance is a sweet savor these days and in the days ahead. "There is no gain but by a loss..." and we appreciate the comfort that can only come by the grace of God. Our love, prayer and care to you all! JD, L, C, A & L Wms.
For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part...Andy, the love and devotion that you and Michelle shared is a great inspiration to us. With love, Megan & Monte Lerwick
To Michelle's family - Andy, Wayne, Wanda, Shawna, Brent and Tiffany.
Thank you so much for this final update about Michelle. I have learned a lot from her, thoroughly enjoyed her positive attitude and sincerity which was always evident to me without ever being lucky enough to meet her face to face. After meeting Shawna at convention a few years ago, I stumbled up Michelle's blog - which I often checked for updates because she always saw the brighter side and I found that so encouraging. I'm thankful her suffering is over and she can go on to her heavenly reward, but thinking of you all during this time ~ you will miss her terribly! She was a great example to me that I'll never forget.
With love, Lynda J - Winnipeg, MB
Much love being sent from us in IL to you all- we never met Michelle, but like others, were so greatly encouraged by her faith in God and her positive upbeat attitude that came through her blog. Her life was such a reminder to us that "life at best is very brief" - but "it pays to serve Jesus". May you be comforted by the very same God that comforted her and know that he sees each tear that falls.
Love,
Brad and Jill (Klepzig) Fox
Walnut, IL
I am so sorry for your loss. Alot of thoughts & prayers coming your way.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Michelle was a great encouragement to us as she faced her battle head on and never let her faith in God waver. What a wonderful example she has been for us all!
Brion, Gena, Shane and Jacob G
Dear Ones,
Like others have said, we have been here many times to share in the "battle" Michelle fought against her failing body. And each time we came away encouraged and inspired to keep our eyes on the things that really matter...
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all as you have lost a dear wife, daughter, sister, friend,... and as you gather this morning at her funeral we are thinking of you and your loss and want you to know we are near in heart.
Randy and Alison and family
Today being the day that you would be gathered in time of memory together...I am there too, in thought. Thanks for sharing the news of the great loss with yet great rejoicing of victory because of keeping true. Oh the separation is real and will be felt deeply. I have appreciated the connection this blog has been to a faithful life, and faithful couple. With great sympathy and care to all of you family.
We want to extend our loving care and thoughts to you all. We have appreciated following some of the journey through the blog--we just met Michelle once at Mandan Conv. in 2004. She has been an inspiration to many, and when we received the word from Marge M. that she had passed; we were saddened for the family, but we know it is victory for her. We just want you to know that we care. With loving sympathy~~Roger and Sherry Myers
I am so thankful that Michelle so openly shared her experience...she truly was inspiring. My thoughts have so often gone your way...and now the final chapter has been written of her life on this earth. You will long be remembered as you adapt to the changes that have come into your experience. Our God is a God of comfort...so I have confidence that you will be comforted. Extending my sympathy.
Virginia Mc
So sorry to get the sad news. We are thinking of you. Nathan & Jana (Craven) Miller
I am so thankful that Michelle has no more sorrow, no more pain, no more tears.....the eternal shores are something we'd never want to keep Michelle from seeing. What joy it brings us and encourages us to keep pressing on. My thoughts are with you all at this time of loss but my heart rejoices with you in witnessing her faithful finish. With heartfelt love and care, Elaine Krogstad and Boys
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. We are thankful that we can leave all in God's hands and that he has a plan for us.
Friends from Wisconsin,
Justin & Neisha Vils
Joy and sorrow interwoven, love in all we see. We are thankful that we know and feel His great love in life, death, and beyond. Tenderest of sympathies, Jim and Susan Stout and the Hungarian staff
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