Obituary of Michelle Denise Hebert

August 1, 1966 – Mayerthorpe, Alberta

 December 12, 2023 – Airdrie, Alberta

In memory of Michelle Hebert, who graced our lives from August 1, 1966, in Mayerthorpe, to December 12, 2023, in Calgary. Michelle, a beloved resident of Whitecourt and Calgary, peacefully passed away at the age of 57.

Michelle's enduring legacy lives on through her two children, Jeffrey Hebert and Jessica Hebert, and the joy she found in being a grandmother to Acacia. Born to Lorraine Coates and Charles Coates, sister to Gregory Coates, she navigated life's journey with resilience and unwavering love.

Her family invites you to share in the memories and tributes offered by her children below.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to your favourite charity.

Funeral Services will be held at Glenwood Funeral Home and Cemetery (52356 Range Rd 232, Sherwood Park, AB T8B 1B8) on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. with the reception to follow in the hospitality centre at the Funeral Home.

May Michelle's love and warmth continue to echo in the hearts of those fortunate enough to know her.

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Dear Mom,

 I find myself reminiscing about all the wonderful memories we shared, and I can't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude for having you as my mom. You were my mama bear, always there to protect me and always in my corner. You believed in me wholeheartedly and encouraged me to pursue whatever dreams made me happy (even if it was moving to a different country). Your faith in my abilities gave me the confidence to follow my own path, knowing that I had your unwavering support with every step. Your unconditional love and belief in me meant the world, and I will be forever grateful. Mom, you were not just a mother to me, but also a best friend who understood me in ways no one else could. Our bond went beyond words, as we could sense each other's emotions without speaking a word. Your presence brought comfort and solace during both the happy and challenging times. I will miss our heartfelt conversations and the feeling of being fully understood. Your caring nature touched the lives of so many people. You were always willing to lend a helping hand and show empathy to those who needed it most. Your acts of kindness made a significant impact on others, and I am proud to have witnessed the love and compassion you shared with your friends, family, students, and complete strangers. It's going to be difficult for me to accept that you are no longer physically here with me. There are already moments when I want to reach for the phone, intending to call/text you for advice. The emptiness that will fill those moments will serve as a painful reminder of your absence. But I find solace in knowing that so much of MY personality and heart is “you”. I hear it in my laugh. I hear it in my cry. I feel it in my heart when someone is being treated unfairly. You instilled empathy in me beyond what I could have known, and I will always try to pass your light onto others. Mom, I will carry your memories with me always. Though saying goodbye is incredibly difficult, I take comfort in knowing you are no longer burdened with worry and that you are now with your own angels, your mom and dad. I love you, Mom. I promise to continue walking the path of empathy, authenticity, vulnerability, and kindness. Love you Mama Bear. Until we meet again.

-Jeffrey Hebert

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My beyond courageous mom, Michelle Hebert, passed away with me at her side on Tuesday. Mom, I just don’t have words to explain the love, support, and encouragement you have given me, shaping my entire being. You made me conquer so many of my irrational fears while growing up and in adulthood. I thank you so much for pushing me towards my discomfort so that I could experience the joys you knew I would be missing out on if left to my own “safe/comfortable” choices. It was the push down the water slide knowing that I loved swimming and would have so much fun if I just took that step forward. And you are the only reason I had the courage to send in an audition tape which got me into a dance company bringing me out to Vancouver. Without that, I would not have found my true soulmate, Clete, and had Acacia. I was terrified of that waterslide tunnel, and I was terrified to not only audition but move away from the comfort of what I knew. You never let me get stuck in my fears but surrounded me with encouragement and love and then gave me a push. I cannot thank you enough for this. You were also our family’s cheerleader. I felt so supported and knew that no matter what I did, you would be cheering me on and sharing it with all your friends. I know my dance studio was something you were so proud of me for, but I wouldn’t have this success without watching you teach all your little kiddos dance since I was a child and observing week after week the kindness, passion, and love that you gave to each and every one of your students. My success is your success, Mom, and my compassion, understanding, and desire to truly shape these kids’ lives through dance all came from your beautiful example of what it is to be a dance teacher and more importantly a compassionate individual. This year’s dance recital will be hard as I have seen your beaming smile in that audience since I was three years old and for the first time, it won’t physically be there. Dance will always be the bond that connected us deeply and I know you’ll be there in spirit watching, a beaming smile across your face as our bond through dance is shared with Acacia on that stage. Now from Acacia. She loves you so much and although your time as Grandma, a title you held with so much pride and joy, got cut short, it has shown me an even deeper love that I didn’t know existed that can only come from your own child playing with, cuddling with, reading stories with your own mom. Experiencing the warm, comforting feelings that you once felt with her presence. I know what brought you the most sadness with your diagnosis was not being able to watch Acacia grow and that she would forget about you. She won’t forget you, Mom. We will talk about you often, share photos, videos, and stories. She loved you so incredibly much and when I told her you were no longer here on earth with us, she took some time to process and then on the car ride home said to me “But I still have two Grandmas. Grandma Michelle just lives in my heart”. There is an emptiness that’s felt with knowing that I will no longer get that push or nudge when I’m hiding behind my own fears or that my cheerleader will no longer post about our accomplishments on Facebook, celebrating in our successes and I will forever miss the happiness it brought to Acacia when she got to be with you whether online playing “Silly Faces” or curled up in bed with you reading her a story. But in the words of a five-year-old, you will absolutely, undoubtedly “live in our hearts”, the heart of every life you touched (and there were so many) during your time on this earth. I love you, Mom. I love you so much.

-Jessica Hebert

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In living memory of Michelle Hebert, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Airdrie, 300 Towerlane Drive, Airdrie, AB T4B 3L8, Telephone: 403-948-1100.