SPENCER: Michelle P. Casavant, 56, of Ash St. and formerly of Fairbanks, Alaska died Friday, Jan. 10 in St. Vincent Hospital after an illness. She leaves her mother Pauline M. (Fecteau) Casavant of Spencer, a brother Mark J. Casavant and his wife Tara of Worcester, a sister Marie A. Telemaque and her husband Pierre of Worcester, a nephew 1st. Lt. Jean-Pierre Telemaque, U.S. Army, three nieces Jocelyne Telemaque and Kayla & Kara Casavant. Michelle was born in Worcester, daughter of the late Wallace J. Casavant. She graduated from David Prouty High School and Worcester State College. She was an outstanding High School and College athlete. She was invited to try out for the 1980 Olympic Field Hockey team. She was named to the NECFHA All Star First Team in 1977. She was a Community Development Specialist II at the Fairbanks Job Center until retiring in 2012. She received much recognition for the time she worked for the State of Alaska and at the time of her retirement was the most senior staff at the Fairbanks Job Center. Michelle made many friends in the eighteen years she lived in Fairbanks, Alaska. As one friend said “I knew her as a person with an open and compassionate heart for anyone in need.” In her capacity as a State employee she helped many folks find work and training. In her personal life she gave to the homeless and did her best to help them move into a safer way of life. She also volunteered as a Midnight Sun Lion member and worked on many community projects including the annual Christmas gift wrap booth at the mall. She had a special “connection” with animals and she worked tirelessly to recue, foster and help spay/neuter animals. She was kind, tender and compassionate with her animal friends and had a very special relationship with her sweet Shyla puppy. She also had a keen sense of humor, a playful nature with children and a love of the arts. She volunteered every year to work at the Ice Alaska ice sculpture park and spent many very cold (-40 degree) nights helping people enjoy the beauty she saw in the ice carvings. Michelle leaves behind many people in Alaska that loved and cared about her as if they were family. She helped her friends with yard work, moving furniture, painting and any chore they needed help with. Despite her love of Alaska and her Alaskan friends she always talked about going home someday to be with her family. We will miss her and we wish her peace in her new journey, free from the pain she endured in life.
A Memorial Mass will be held Thursday, Jan. 16 at 10:30 AM in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 7 Church St., Spencer. Burial will follow in Mary, Queen of the Rosary Cemetery. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Mary, Queen of the Rosary Parish, St. Vincent De Paul Society, 60 Maple St., Spencer, 01562 or to Second Chance Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 136, East Brookfield, MA 01515. J. HENRI MORIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 23 Maple Terr., Spencer is directing arrangements.