Prince’s strength of spirit lives on
Schoolchildren line street as funeral procession for 46-year-old passes
More than 700 people filled Corpus Christi Church in South Windsor Friday morning for the funeral mass of Michelle Prince.
The 46-year-old mother of two, businesswoman and wife of former Windsor mayor Eddie Francis died peacefully Sunday after a five-year battle with cancer. “Michelle cannot, and will not, be forgotten,” said Gordon Orr, family friend and CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, during his eulogy for Prince. In January 2014, Prince, a chiropractic doctor, was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer after a pain in her groin led her to schedule a colonoscopy.
She received surgery and chemo treatments, but the cancer returned in 2015, and again in 2016, and she underwent numerous chemo rounds.
In 2017, Prince began livestreaming her biweekly chemotherapy sessions, always eager to educate others. She also launched her own radio show, Taking Charge of your Health, to promote a healthy lifestyle. “Michelle stared cancer in the face, and she was brave and she didn’t blink,” Orr said. “She fought back to keep it at bay as long as she could. Michelle’s desire to beat this and live well past her expectations is nothing short of a miracle.” As the funeral procession passed by the school of Prince’s two children, Sienna and Phoenix, the entire student body lined the sidewalk, some making hearts with their hands, others holding hands with each other. “Michelle’s spirit is so strong that we must continue to talk about her, recall her, and tell stories about her and remind ourselves about her and her kids,” said Orr.
In lieu of flowers, those interested were asked to donate to the Dr. Michelle Prince Comfort Care Tote Program, a Transition to Betterness program created in partnership with the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation. Through the program, patients who undergo chemotherapy treatment in Windsor receive a tote bag filled with items to engage and comfort them, as well as help them cope with side effects.