Michelle'e Korak

Michelle'e Chewning Korak, 65, of Huntsville, Alabama, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2026.
Michelle'e was born on September 4, 1960, in Rochester, Pennsylvania, to Janice and Donald Chewning. She lived a life defined by unconditional love, resilience, and simple joys that touched everyone around her.
She met her husband, John Korak, in 1979 on the campus of Penn State University. Together, they built a beautiful life spanning more than 46 years and raised two children, Adam and Janna Korak. Her children were the center of her world. She never missed an opportunity to celebrate their achievements or express how deeply she loved them and how proud she was of the people they became. She saved nearly every newspaper clipping of their high school football, baseball, and softball accomplishments.
Michelle'e began her fight against breast cancer in 2012 and was cancer-free for ten years before its return in 2024. Throughout it all, she showed remarkable grace and strength. Her diagnosis never defined her spirit. She fought quietly, surrounded by the support of her family.
Michelle'e was known for her deep professionalism. Determined in anything she set her mind to, she moved through life with integrity and purpose. She gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Resources from Penn State University in 1983. Michelle'e was a key contributor to the growth of the small business Computer Systems Technology as its HR Director prior to its acquisition by SAIC in 2003. Her colleagues described her as a confident leader who remained humble, approachable, and professional. She was a light within the workplace, creating an open-door environment where coworkers felt safe sharing their burdens and seeking encouragement. Michelle'e possessed a strong will and tenacious spirit, which she demonstrated by training for and completing her first marathon after the birth of her son and another after the birth of her daughter. She continued with SAIC until her retirement in 2021.
In retirement, Michelle'e found special meaning in volunteering, offering comfort, compassion, and most importantly, hope to patients navigating their own cancer journeys. Until illness sidelined her, she regularly served alongside her "Pink Sisters" at Clearview Cancer Institute. Michelle'e also shared her love for animals by volunteering with A New Leash on Life, a local animal rescue organization.
Michelle'e cherished weekends at her family's lake house, watching the sunset across the water with her husband and their two rescue dogs, Milly and Molly. She loved Saturdays in the fall, cooking her favorite soup and watching football; "We Are. Penn State!"
Michelle'e is survived by her husband, John Korak; her children, Adam and Janna Korak; and her sister, Dawn Goldberg.
She leaves behind a family forever shaped by her strength and love. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
A celebration of life will be held in Michelle'e's honor on Sunday, March 29. Further details can be found here: