Michele Rae Knieriemen, 43, of Apopka, Florida, passed away January 26, 2017. Ms. Knieriemen was born July 13, 1973 in Apopka, FL. She was a Nurse Practitioner. Ms. Knieriemen is preceded in death by her father Thomas Knieriemen. She is survived by her mother Sandra Knieriemen and brother Eric Knieriemen both of Apopka. Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, March 12th, 2017 from 12:00pm-4:00pm. There will be a service, followed by food, music, pictures (bring one and there will be plenty that you can take with you) and a cash bar. Please let Eric know through Facebook, if you plan to attend for a head count. Venue: Lakeside Reception Hall, 4005 North Orange Blossom Trail (441), Orlando, FL 32804.
The Day the Cardinals didn't come!
Someone once said that cardinals were angels in a physical form here to let us know that our loved ones are still close. There has been a small flock of 3 cardinals that play around in our front yard every morning enjoying the corn I throw out for them and blessing us with their song and beauty. On this day, the cardinals never came. All we heard was a distant call. Your body was resting while your mind and heart struggled with the idea of having to leave us behind. The cardinals had taken their spiritual form and were now hovering around your bed waiting for you to take their hands and join them in heaven. We know you finally found peace and comfort as a new cardinal appeared with the very next sunrise. It may be coincidence that a new cardinal showed up to join the flock of three, but I know that it is you comforting us.
Michele, you were my best friend through everything in life and I am so fortunate to actually be your brother. You understood me from an early age, as you did most of the talking for me until I was two or three. We had our fights, and times where we did not get along, but I never questioned the love you had for me and I hope you never questioned mine for you. Some might say you lost your battle with cancer, but I say you still won the war. The time that we spent before your self-diagnosis could not compare to the quality time after. I know you felt bad when diagnosing someone with cancer and I would always tell you that you gave them the greatest gift and that is time. This is time that would no longer be wasted on petty differences, instead, replaced with love and understanding. We are all only allotted so much time on this earth, and you my dear, have squeezed every second out of it right to the end. There is a poem called the "Dash" but for you, we'll need a long line. We will all miss you very much! Love you Sissy bug!
Eric
Michele you are the most wonderful daughter a mother could ask for. You have always been driven to work hard for anything you wanted, sometimes to a fault. Never giving up even when the odds were against you. Always giving to others in many ways, whether it was friendship, motivation, medical advice, medical research and or just a shoulder to cry on – even though I know you shed a lot of tears in silence for yourself. It was family, friends, students and patients that made you want to keep going on and giving with all of your heart.
From when you started as an EMT, then paramedic working on the ambulance going to school to become a fire fighter, then RN always working nights and holidays. Still not satisfied you went on to get your Masters in Nursing become an ARNP with a dream of opening a clinic in a rural area and helping people who could not afford health care. It was at this time in your life you found you had a brain tumor and needed to be fighting your own battle, but that still did not stop you. Nine years you fought this battle, going for treatment every 2 weeks and 1 1/2 hour MRI's every 2 months, most people would have given up but not you as you still had more lives to touch!
Eric and I are taking good care of Maggie and Jack and they are adjusting to being a part of the pack.
Hopefully you told your Dad how much we have missed him this year and gave him a hug and kiss for me. I know you both are having fun as that is what you two do best together.
Love your Momma