Michelle Strati Memorial Fund

Michelle died on November 29, 2022, at her home in Union, Michigan, surrounded by her loved ones. She was 58.

Chelle embarked on a journey that would touch many lives. She was a graduate of Elkhart Memorial High School in the class of 1982, followed by her achievement in earning a degree in accounting from Manchester College in 1986, and later her teaching certificate, with a special endorsement in kindergarten, from Indiana University South Bend. Her life was intertwined with her high school sweetheart, Alex Strati Jr., whom she married on November 19, 1988, in Elkhart, fostering a love story that lasted 34 years and welcomed three loving children and grandchildren into their lives. Chelle found pure joy in being the heart of the home for her family.  

Throughout her 20-year career at Hawthorne Elementary School in Elkhart, Chelle dedicated herself to the education and nurturing of over 450 kindergarteners, a testament to her passion and commitment to making a difference. Beyond the classroom, Chelle embraced life with zest — whether it was in her roles as a loving wife, mother, and grandma, or through her hobbies that included cooking, traveling with family and friends, and fully enjoying the natural beauty of lake life.

Despite her battle with cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), Chelle’s legacy is not defined by her illness but by the strength, love, and joy she radiated. Chelle loved to tell a story, and her smile would light up a room.  Her life, marked by her infectious enthusiasm and unwavering love, continues to inspire those who knew her to live their lives with the same #ChelleStrong spirit every day.

Her family wanted to honor her life, so they held a few fundraising events, including the first annual Chelle Strong golf outing and raising money via the 2023 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. Since then, they have chosen to establish a fund at the Community Foundation of Elkhart County to do more charitable giving in her name.

Donations are welcome.