Michelle M. Stephenson

Michelle Mary Stephenson (née Cano), age 47, of Waukesha, Wisconsin passed away unexpectedly early Sunday morning, April 28, 2024. Visitation will be held on… Thursday, 2 May, 2024 Funeral service will be held on Friday, 3 May, 2024 Michelle was born July 10, 1976, in Chicago, Illinois to Alfonso Cano II and Betty Sue (née Rowe) Cano. Even though her life has been rife with struggles up/down, she always stood tall as an inspiration to others. Her mother passed away when she was only thirteen, thrusting her into the daunting responsibility of being the backbone of her family. Faced with mounting challenges, including leaving school and having her first child at a young age, life had not been kind to her in the start, but it made her who she was. Regardless, she had constantly battled adversities and she was dearly loved and respected from those close to her. My mother’s determination and relentless spirit touched others in so many different ways. She always told me “you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it” and “i want you to graduate and go to college unlike me.” She loved me so much and was so proud of me, and that’s nothing more than what her child can ask for. Additionally, her not being able to graduate didn’t mean her life was branded with the mark of failure. She worked hard as the breadwinner in the family, and created a stable life for herself and her family and so much more. She nurtured each and every one of us with love, she provided for anyone who needed a home or food to eat, and she always listened if you needed to talk no matter what. She also called anyone out on something if she sought it wrong, and you don’t want Michelle to go off on you. It's scary. Michelle was silly, sassy, she had a great laugh, and she would do anything in her power to help those she cared for. Michelle loved music, playing cards, drinking brandy, cooking occasionally, spending time with her family, and snuggling with her kitties Ava, Cleopatra, and Shadow. Michelle was a wife, mother, second mother to others, daughter, sister, aunt, co-worker and friend. She loved with all her heart and always had fire in her eyes. Michelle shared 23 loving years with her husband, Ulysses “Mike” Stephenson. They’ve always been two peas in a pod together. It’s never Mike without Michelle and vice versus. Both of them together to the looking eye would label them as inseparable and it’s amazing how they loved each other to death did her part. Michelle loved her daughter, TatiAnna Stephenson so much, and even more than herself. She cherished her time with her husband, child, her extended children: Caylee Werchowski, Tristian Morgan, and Tahliah Keith, family, co-workers and three cats. Michelle’s warmth, kindness, humor, respect, and dedication to others will live on and never be forgotten. Those left to honor her memory are her husband, Ulysses Stephenson; daughter. Tatianna Stephenson; brother, Adam Cano. Stepmother, Debbie Cano; sisters-in-law, Michelle Cano and Carrie Cano; and nieces and nephews, Nicholas (Antonia), Tristan, Alyssa, Julia, and Cameron. Michelle is preceded in death by her parents, her son, Alexander, and her brother, Alfonso “Fonzie” Cano III.