Michelle Canaday

In Loving Memory Of

Michelle Elizabeth Canaday February 20, 1986 - March 6, 2020

Our dear sweet Michelle made her way into Gods hands on March 6, 2020. Family surrounded her at her time of passing.

The chains that bound her to struggles here on earth were broken, and she is soaring on eagles’ wings over us all. God gave his Son for us and knew the pain we would endure, but we believe He took her to remove her pains here on earth.

Michelle was born at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque on February 20, 1986. She attended Georgia O’Keefe Elementary School, Eisenhower Middle School, El Dorado High School, and UNM, where she received her BA in Economics and Sociology. Michelle sprang into retail sales management working at Target, JC Penny, Frito-Lay, and their parent company PepsiCo. Her last job before passing was at Home Depot in Denver.

Michelle lived life well traveling abroad to Italy with friend Meghan, trips to Hawaii with family, and spending time with friends in many US cities and states. She was a snowboarder, fisherwoman, and devoted Mom to Max and Leo her dogs.

In her younger years, Michelle was a formidable athlete. She and friends played soccer hard, and she loved the competition. In her long soccer career, she and her friend Melissa were forwards to be reckoned with. They were often seen moving the ball forward with extreme precision and passing to one another to make spectacular goals against the competing teams. Michelle, Clara, and her Dad spent several winter seasons on the road visiting the various ski resorts competing in the UNM Corporate Cup. In her twenties, she switched to snowboarding and spent many weekends with her friends swooshing down the mountains. Soccer was still a part of her fun time, and she and best buds spent many evenings playing an indoor league in Albuquerque. In between the soccer and snow sports was fishing. Michelle never missed an opportunity to fish with her family. In 2018 Michelle proved invincible by catching and reeling in a blue marlin off the coast of Kona, Hawaii, on her first day out.

Michelle moved to Denver with her former husband Patrick in her mid-twenties in her quest to climb the corporate ladder with Frito Lay and PepsiCo. Friends in her work environment at the company recall her “spit and vinegar” when she came into the room. She was a doer and loved working with her teams to make the company goals look easy.

Michelle is survived by parents Dan and Martha Holder of Tijeras, Jim and Kelly Welles of Albuquerque, Sisters Brittany Holder of Albuquerque, and Clara Welles of Las Cruces. Michelle has aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends galore. She has left all of us brokenhearted but with the understanding of her sanctuary in Heaven.

Michelle’s cremains will be spread in her many favorite places by the families that loved her so dearly. When you look to skies and sunsets, know Michelle is telling us there are no tears in Heaven.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.�

- Anonymous

FRIENDS

Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day... unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed, and very dear.

10

WELLES FAMILY

Memories… let them fill your mind, warm your heart, and lead you through.

HOLDER FAMILY

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.