Rebecca Marie Brase Michalak

1954 - 2017

Rebecca Marie Brase Michalak, age 63, of Millcreek, passed away peacefully, on Thursday, July 6th, at her residence, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on January 1, 1954, in Owatonna, Minn., the daughter of Eleanor Jean Wolf Brase and the late Everett Robert Brase. She was the first baby born in Steele County, Minn. in the New Year, 1954.

Rebecca grew up on the family dairy farm in Medford, Minn., graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 1972 of Medford High School and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1976 with a BSN from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.

She began her nursing career working as a staff registered nurse and head nurse at Rochester Methodist Hospital, part of the Mayo Health System, in Rochester, Minn. It was in Rochester that she met her husband, Dennis M. W. Michalak, M.D. They were married on November 10, 1979 in Medford, Minn.

Becky followed Dennis during his training and early practice years to Buffalo, N.Y., Rochester, N.Y., and Minot, N.D., where she worked in the Trauma and Cardiac Surgery ICUs. Becky also served in the United States Army Reserves, attaining the rank of Major.

Beginning with the birth of their first child in 1984, Becky devoted herself to being a full time mother and mentor to their three children. They are the greatest joys of her life.

Becky returned to nursing in 2010 at the Cardiac Stress Lab at UPMC Hamot, retiring in September 2016 due to her illness.

She volunteered and proudly served as an officer of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. She also volunteered with the Erie County Medical Alliance and Erie Youth Hockey Association.

She was preceded in death by her father, Everett; her grandparents, May Summers Brase and Henry Carl Brase and Carrie Edith Lutz Wolf and Sidney Jonathan Wolf; and several aunts and uncles.

In addition to her mother, Eleanor, she is survived by her husband of 37 years, Dennis, her three children, daughter, Laura of Denville, N.J.; son, Anthony (Lexy) of New York City; and son, Christopher of Baltimore, Md; a darling granddaughter, Anneliese; a brother, Thomas Brase (Jude) of Red Wing, Minn.; a sister-in-law, Linda Anderson (Jim) of Gilbert, Ariz.; a brother-in-law, William Michalak, M.D. (Donna) of Mars, Pa.; an aunt, Gloria Wolf Timm of Medford, Minn.; one niece, Jennifer Ward of Staten Island, N.Y.; and three nephews, Timothy Nihill (Janet) of Chandler, Ariz., Nicholas Brase (Liron) of Port Washington, N.Y., and Nathan Brase (Jane) of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Friends may call on the family on Monday from 2:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Burton Westlake Funeral Home, 3801 West 26th Street (at Powell Avenue), Erie, PA 16506, and are invited to the service on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 3108 Sterrettania Road, Erie, PA 16506, with Rev. Anita Bernhardt officiating.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Burial will be Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

To send condolences, please visit www.BurtonFuneralHome.com.

Sign the Guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits.