Michelle M. Berry, 55, passed peacefully from this world on Sunday, August 21, 2011, as the result of a brain tumor. Michelle faced her illness with the same strength, courage, and humor with which she lived each day. She will be greatly missed. Michelle was predeceased by her father, Leo J. Cody; and infant sister, Maureen. She is survived by her husband, Robert; two sons, Brendan and Colin; her mother, Mary (Spendley) Cody; a sister, Anne Marie (Stephen) DePalmo; and three brothers, David (Joyce), Christopher (Niamh), and Mark (Holly) Cody. In addition, Michelle is survived by an aunt, Peg VanDerWal; uncle and aunt, Frank and Rosemary Spendley; mother-in-law, Arlene Berry; sisters-in-law, Kathleen Kennedy and Peggy Berry; and brother-in-law, John Berry. She is also survived by 23 nieces and nephews and many cousins. Michelle was the granddaughter of the late Paul K. and Anna (Barrett) Spendley and the late Leo S. and Kathryn (Hallahan) Cody. Michelle was a graduate of Binghamton North High School, Plattsburgh State University and Binghamton University, where she earned her M.B.A. She was Director of Broome County's CASA Department for 19 years. Prior to that, Michelle worked at as a social worker at Willow Point Nursing Home and Wilson Hospital and as Assistant Director of Action for Older Persons. Michelle also worked as an adjunct instructor at Broome Community College. Michelle was actively involved in many social issues at the local, state, and national levels, particularly in the areas of home healthcare and eldercare. She served on the advisory and directorship boards of many local agencies, including AOP, Lourdes Hospice, YWCA, Family and Children's Society, and United Methodist Homes. Michelle was blessed with a large, loving family and a great many wonderful friends and colleagues. She was a woman of action and did a great many things to better this community. She was fiercely loyal to those she loved and gave to them in many ways, such as sitting with a young friend as she passed away, helping friends recover from the flood of 2006, or simply providing wise guidance to her many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank the many health professionals who cared for her during her illness, including Doctors Haq, Sethi, Hastings, Modrak, and Ronald Harris and their wonderful staffs. We also wish to thank the marvelous nursing staffs at Wilson Medical Center and Lourdes Hospice, whose compassionate team of nurses, aides, counselors, and a very special volunteer made us realize we were not alone during Michelle's final weeks. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Church, Johnson City. The family will receive friends at Thomas J. Shea Funeral Home, 137 Robinson Street, Binghamton on Friday from 3-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Michelle requested that donations be made to one of the following two charities of your choice: Action for Older Persons or the Michelle M. Berry Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will be used to provide college scholarship money to a deserving Johnson City High School Senior. The AOP donation can be mailed to Action for Older Persons, 32 West State Street, Binghamton, NY 13901. The scholarship donation can be made to Michelle M. Berry Memorial Scholarship Fund by stopping by any SEFCU branch or via mail addressed to SEFCU, 700 Patroon Creek Blvd., Albany, NY 12206.

Published in Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin from Aug. 25 to Aug. 27, 2011