Michelle Aurea (Antaya) Grinsel, 38, of Ventura, CA, passed away on February 19,2017 at home surrounded by family after a 3.5 year battle with breast cancer. Michelle was born and raised in the beautiful lakeside northern Michigan town of Traverse City, MI to John and Aurea Antaya on November 11, 1978. She graduated from Traverse City Central High School in 1996. After high school she attended Michigan State University and went on to earn a bachelors degree in Communications in 2000. In the summer of 1997, she met the love of her life, Mark Grinsel, while working as a waitress at St. Mary Lodge and Resort in Glacier National Park in St. Mary, Montana. After college, she moved to Minneapolis, MN with Mark and began a career in apparel merchandising with Marshall Fields department stores. In 2005, she fulfilled a lifelong dream when she and Mark moved to the Ventura, CA area to begin a career with the outdoor clothing company Patagonia. She is survived by her husband, Mark, and daughters River (7) and Sea (5) of Ventura, CA; her mother Aurea Antaya of Traverse City, MI; her sister Laine (Antaya) Kyser of Interlochen, MI; her half brother Shawn Nickel of Cummings, GA; her half sister Dawn (Nickel) Heimbold of Alaska, her father-in-law and mother-in-law Dave and Kathy Grinsel of Neenah, WI; her sister-in-law Jennifer (Grinsel) Borths of Appleton, WI; her sister-in-law Jodi (Grinsel) Clifford of Denver, CO; and many others. She was preceded in death by her father John Antaya. Michelle loved water, swimming, scuba diving, traveling, art, crafting, music, dancing, playing with her children, and her friends. Michelle was fiercely beautiful, funny and smart. She was confident, stubborn and strong. She was an amazing mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, businesswoman, writer, filmmaker and artist. She had success at everything she put her mind to. She lit up a room when she walked in. She was present when she talked to others. She made everyone feel important, seen and valued. She taught us all about living in the moment with gratitude. She set the tone for others to follow in her battle with cancer. She approached this cruel disease with the same strength, grace, determination and optimism that she brought to all her endeavors. Her attitude carried her entire family and many others through her journey. She was a gift to the world and will be incredibly missed. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Friendship Paddle, 920 Garden St. Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (www.friendshippaddle.org). The family wishes to extend their gratitude to all of their amazing friends, their Patagonia community, the Santa Barbara Friendship Paddle community, and all of the amazing doctors, nurses and administrators who carried them through the last 3.5 years.
Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life Memorial Service to be held Thursday February 23, 2017 at 1:30pm at Reality Ventura, 1954 Goodyear Avenue Ventura. Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, Ventura.