Michele Rene Pignatone

Michele Rene Pignatone (Mish)

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the young age of 63 in Fort Myers, Florida. Michele was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 21 years, Frank Pignatone. She is survived by her children, Stephanie, Benjamin, and Amelia, and her brother, Larry Deforest, as well as a large, loving family of cousins and grandchildren who will carry her memory forward.

Born and raised in upstate New York, Michele met the love of her life and married in 1982. Together, they built a home grounded in love, strength, and resilience. Michele went on to become a registered nurse, dedicating more than 20 years to caring for others with grace, compassion, and an unwavering sense of duty.

Her life was not without hardship. She bore the weight of many challenges, often putting the needs of others before her own. Despite the burdens she carried, she remained the unshakable center of her family, a constant source of warmth, strength, and unconditional love. Her confidence was steady, her spirit determined, and her belief in her children and family never faltered.

Michele's life was tragically cut short by a debilitating disease that slowly took from her what she had so often given to others: her energy, her time, and her well-being. Still, even in her hardest moments, she offered love and laughter. Her laugh, genuine and contagious, will echo in our memories forever.

How lucky and grateful we were to call her mom. She gave us everything she could: guidance when we were lost, truth spoken with love, and the uncanny ability to see exactly what we needed, even before we did. She was our greatest supporter, our steady hand, our safe place.

She will never be forgotten. We will carry her memory forward in the moments she shaped, the lessons she taught, and the love she gave so freely. In honoring her, we honor the extraordinary life she lived and the countless lives she touched along the way.