Michelle Strauss Fuery

In Loving Memory of Michelle Strauss Fuery

December 4, 1969 - May 27, 2025

It is with broken hearts and deep love that we announce the unexpected passing of our beautiful, hilarious, and irreplaceable mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Michelle Strauss Fuery, on May 27, 2025.

Michelle was born December 4, 1969, in Wichita Falls , TX to Richard Clemmons and Melody Strauss, and later adopted by Fredrick Strauss and raised in Woodstock, IL. She had a laugh that could light up a room and a sense of humor that often left others in joyful tears. She had a gift for making people feel seen, heard, and loved-especially if they brought her coffee.

She was the proud mother of three daughters - Caitlin Strauss, Emily (Christian) Bluth, and Jennifer (Nathan) Salmons - and the absolutely besotted grandmother of nine, lovingly referred to as her "grandbeauties" - Myka Smith, Melodee Hale, Maddox Hale, Maverick Hale, Oaklee Jorgensen, Haizel Jorgensen, Kinslee Becker, Easton Becker, and Sophia Salmons. To her, they were more than grandchildren - they were her heart, her joy, and her favorite partners in silliness.

She dedicated her adult life to working in senior care, where her skill, empathy, and strength uplifted countless lives. It was fitting work for someone who truly understood how to care for others with dignity and humor - even when that meant sneaking someone an extra dessert or telling a well-timed joke at just the right moment.

She also had a deep love for photography, capturing both the ordinary and extraordinary in the lives around her. She had a knack for finding beauty in small moments - especially if there happened to be a dog or grandchild in the frame. Speaking of dogs, she loved them more than she liked most people (and if you knew her, you knew that wasn't just a joke-it was the honest truth).

A proud caffeine enthusiast, she drank more coffee than should be legally allowed, and she somehow slept like a baby every night.

She is survived by her three devoted brothers, Rick (Renee) Strauss, Chuck (Kristin) Strauss, and Kevin (Mandi) Strauss, a sprawling and loving group of cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws and friends, all of whom cherished her deeply. She was preceded in death by her beloved mother Melody, her Father Richard and both maternal and fraternal grandparents - Phillip and Dorothy Horn, and Katherine Chaurete and Charles Clemmons, who all no doubt greeted her with long anticipated warm hugs (and probably a strong cup of coffee).

Though originally from Woodstock, Illinois, she spent her final years in Phoenix, Arizona, where she continued to fill hearts with joy and her phone with hundreds of pictures-mostly of her grandkids, dogs, and the occasional sunrise.

She leaves behind a legacy of laughter, love, and compassion. Her memory will live on in every sarcastic comment, every candid photo, and every sip of strong coffee shared in her honor. Losing someone who brought so much light and laughter into the world leaves a space that words can't fully fill. But, that love doesn't go away. It lingers in memories, stories, and in the ways she shaped the people who loved her and whom she loved.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to daughters through their created go fund me link.

A celebration of life will be in the following weeks ahead. Reach out to daughters for details of service.