Michele Gunderson, of South Otselic, passed away on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. She was 58 years old.
Born June 22, 1958, in Brooklyn, NY, Michele was the daughter of Michael and Maryanne (Knapp) Sanchez, each of whom preceded Michele in death. On May 4, 1980, in Valley Stream, Long Island, Michele married the love of her life, William “Bill” Gunderson, who survives. Having spent time vacationing in Upstate New York in their early married life, Michele and Bill relocated to Pitcher in 1999, and most recently relocated to South Otselic.
For twelve years, Michele worked as a Senior Account Clerk in the administrative offices of DCMO BOCES in Norwich. She formed strong and meaningful relationships with the people she worked with, which lasted long after she stopped working there.
Michele loved her family fiercely, and also lived her life fully and passionately. She was a skilled gardener, and enjoyed tooling around on her four-wheeler. She was often found listening to her favorite 1970’s music, and was an active hunter. Having survived both ovarian and skin cancer, Michele annually participated in the Relay for Life event at the Chenango County Fairgrounds with the DCMO BOCES team.
In addition to her loving husband, Michele is survived by her children Lauren Gunderson, Nicole (Andres) Sanchez, and William (Melesa) Gunderson II; granddaughter Riley Gunderson; and siblings Renee (Bob) Levy, her twin Michael (Jane) Sanchez, Adriane (Michael) Herbert, Kathy (Joe) D’Arpa, and Jannine Sanchez. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and several sisters and brothers-in-law, each of whom she loved dearly. Also left in Bill’s care are her chocolate lab, Hannah, and black cat, Stealth.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Michele will be held at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, January 21, 2017, at the Church of St. Bartholomew, where the Rev. Ralph A. Bove, pastor, will officiate. Friends are invited to call at the Wilson Funeral Home, Norwich, NY, on Friday from 5: 00 - 8:00 p.m. Burial will take place in the spring at St. Paul’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Michele may be made to the American Cancer Society, 13 Beech Street, Johnson City, NY 13790 or the Danielle House, 160 Riverside Drive, Binghamton, NY 13905.
To leave the family a message of condolence, please visit the funeral home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.