Michelle Elizabeth Olson

Michelle Elizabeth Olson of Woodhaven passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the age of 45. She had been fighting a lengthy illness and lost the battle at home, peacefully and with family by her side. She will always be the cherished mother of Joseph Olson and Faith (aka Fynn) Olson as well as the beloved daughter of Sandra (Frank) Chavez and David Cook, loving sister of Daniel Cook and Jennifer Cook. She leaves behind her cherished partner of nearly fifteen years, Tim Witmer, and their furry child, rescue dog Rooby-roo. She also leaves behind aunts, uncles, cousins and nieces, specifically her uncle and aunt Carl and Carolyn Polomski, who provided dedicated support to Michelle and her immediate family always and especially during the difficult time of her illness. We pray she is in peace and surrounded by those loved ones that went before her, notably her stepfather, Francisco (aka Frank) Chavez, maternal and paternal grandparents, Uncle Stan, Uncle Tony, her older sister Angel who was lost at birth, her dear friend Jess, and her beloved childhood dog Mandy.

Michelle’s parting will also be mourned by friends from all stages of her life, many of whom she considered family. As Maya Angelou said, “Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs. The ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.” – you know who you are.

Sandy and David adopted Michelle into their family when she was six months old. Unfortunately, she was born to a drug-addicted mother and went through withdrawal after her birth. Despite the challenges this brought to baby Michelle and her new parents, they knew that she was a blessing and always loved her unconditionally. She was a beautiful baby with curly hair, chubby cheeks and big brown eyes. Strangers who saw her often said she looked like Betty Boop. She was a very active child who loved to climb trees, swim, ride horses and play with her sister and their neighborhood friends. She spent the beginning years of her life in Grosse Pointe Farms and attended Grosse Pointe South High School. After high school she moved around southeast Michigan a bit, had a stint in Florida, and eventually settled in Woodhaven.

She loved animals, especially horses, dogs and cats. Throughout the years, she was a devoted pet mom of fish, gerbils, hamsters, a frog and a corn snake, cats, and dogs. She loved reading, especially Steven King. She was a talented chef, especially if you liked spicy food! She had a beautiful singing voice, and a special passion for Madonna and Disney songs. School and academics were never really her thing, but outside of a classroom setting she was a voracious learner and could tell you details about so many topics from wildlife to Abraham Lincoln, and much more. Mostly, Michelle was kind and open hearted and of course known for that Betty Boop smile.

Michelle will be dearly missed and will live on forever in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Michelle can be made to the Michigan Humane Society. The family has set up a go fund me account to help with her children's financial needs through this difficult time:https://gofund.me/125c0b10

Gathering will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Trenton Chapel of the Martenson Family of Funeral Homes. There will be a memorial service at 4:30 p.m. followed by a reception at the Woodhaven Community center, which will start at 6:30 pm. The family appreciates the love and support from all over and welcomes all to join either or both events.