Muriel Coleman ("Mom," "Grandma," "Gra," "Gigi"), passed peacefully in her sleep on Monday, March 30th.

Predeceased by husband William, parents William and Gladys Newman, siblings William and Mary Newman, and daughter Wylene Driscoll.

Survived by sister Jean Riddle, daughters Sharlene (Larry) Sacco and Jelene (Mick) Eberle, 7 grandchildren; Kristen Greene, Lindsay Driscoll, Lesley, Stephanie (Mike Powell), and William (Maddie) Sacco, and Matthew (Megan) and Michael Eberle, 7 great grandchildren; Suzanna (Connor) Nevil, Evan Greene, Jeremiah and Micah Greene, Eliza and Mia Eberle, Macy Eberle, and Naomi and Gabriel Powell, and several nieces and nephews.

Born on April 13th in 1933 in Stamford, NY, she survived the Great Depression, which taught her the lifelong skills of frugality and homesteading, as well as World War II, which opened her eyes to the rest of the world as her father traveled abroad during the war. She grew up the daughter of a family doctor, with jars full of organ samples lining the walls of their family bathroom in her childhood home. Her parents were from Canada, and her grandparents were all farmers in Canada; she spent summers with them on their farms, as well as at the family cottage in the Thousand Islands near Gananoque. Her first job was as a telephone operator.

Muriel attended two years at Wooster College in Ohio before she was married to Ken Michalske. They had 3 children: Wylene, Sharlene, and Jelene. They lived in Pittsford, NY. The marriage became rocky, and she smartly pursued a degree in teaching at Geneseo College, anticipating the need to be financially independent. Then, one summer day, she got the phone call – her father had died from a heart-attack. He was the person she'd been closest to. Two months later, her husband left her. It was a difficult time, but Muriel persevered and focused on her children, as well as taking care of her mother. At some point in her life (and we imagine it was around this time), she took up the mantra "this too shall pass."

Then, she met Bill Coleman – a 6th grade History teacher in Victor, NY. He asked her to marry him, and he adopted her three girls as his own children. They moved to Canandaigua and built up a home, a life, and a legacy, together. They raised the girls and later on, took a very active role in helping to raise several of their grandchildren. They would watch the grandchildren before and after school, throughout the summers, and took family in, when needed. Muriel dealt with difficult losses and challenges in her life, without much complaint. She did not take many things for granted. She was a realist, not a dreamer. When life got tough, she would "plod on" (in her words) and focus on who needed her help. Another of her favorite sayings was, "get over it," which would make her laugh at her own self-pity and refocus on what she could control.

Muriel was a person who was willing to take a stand. She even quit her job once, because she disagreed with the leadership. While working as a remedial learning instructor at FLCC (then known as "CCFL,") she had an active and vocal role in the Feminist Coalition. And while she was not outspoken about many issues, she never hesitated to include or attend to a person, regardless of race or creed. She was a woman of small rebellions, who managed to fit into "polite society" but still be genuine and stay true to herself. Perhaps this is why she also had many dear friends throughout the years who loved her for the person she was.

Muriel was also a tough woman, but in the best way. Any of her students (she taught elementary school in Victor, Naples, and Saudi Arabia) knew that while she was a caring and dedicated teacher, she was not afraid to bring them to order if they got out of line. She was quick-witted, clever, but also measured and thoughtful. Above all, she was loving, and she gave her love in many ways. She emphasized the value of an education, which had been her ticket to independence. Not only college education, but also skills – she taught her grandchildren how to read, how to sew, how to cook and make preserves, how to swim, how to budget; how to plan for the future.

She dressed simply but always had style to her. She loved matching sets. She loved loafers. She was always, always color coordinated. She had a vast collection of eclectic earrings and funky socks. She loved pastel colors and wore pink lipstick. Well, except for the 2 years when she lived in Saudi Arabia and had to wear a burqa. She made sure she took care of her nails, daily. She didn't wear much make-up, and she aged gracefully and honestly.

Muriel and husband Bill were extensive travelers to Europe, and several times traveled abroad with their grandchildren, as well. They encouraged their grandchildren to be curious and interested in the world beyond our borders, and to be welcoming to people from other parts of the world.

Muriel and Bill were ardent supporters of youth tennis hosting numerous tennis gatherings and fundraisers in the Canandaigua area. Their junior – senior events were intended to foster a passion for the sport as a life-long social activity. Muriel was an ardent supporter, mentor, and cheerleader for her grandchildren, attending all of their tennis matches and bringing home baked cookies to be shared by members of both teams.

She was a passionate gardener and took great pride in her jams, jellies, and pickles. She is perhaps most famous for her strawberry jelly recipe. One time, she grew so much asparagus that Bill ended up getting gout from eating too much of it! She found joy in simple pleasures, such as sanding and staining furniture. She was an avid reader and also loved doing newspaper puzzles; she always had a book or puzzle on hand, should she end up waiting for Bill at the racetrack or casino. She also loved to end the day with a glass of wine, a scotch, or a Southern Comfort Manhattan, up.

Muriel referred to the Thompson senior living facilities as her "Cruise Ship to Heaven." She had hoped to pass at Ferris Hills, Clark Meadows, or in hospice, but she ended up at MM Ewing due to medical concerns. To reference another common aphorism of hers," life's a b**** and then you die" which she rephrased to "life's a b**** and then you don't die" during her battle with dementia and "the two holes in my brain." She never lost her sense of humor, her incredible humility, and her ability to share moments of joy with her loved ones, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When asked what she believes in, she replied: "I believe in courtesy, graciousness, love for family, sympathy for loss, encouragement for hopelessness, and a responsibility to improve the world in which I live." Her greatest pride in life was her family, as seen at the family's annual Christmas Eve celebration: "In spite of divorce and tragedy, we gathered with love and humor and joy to celebrate our lives."

Today, we honor Muriel's life and legacy and feel an unending sense of gratitude for all that she gave us. Not only to her family, but to the many students and other young folks she took under her wings throughout the years. We know that we were all lucky to have had her for so many years. And, we look forward to carrying her memory with us for many, many more. We love you; we miss you, and we will never forget you.

Our thanks to her caregivers at Ferris Hills, Clark Meadows, and MM Ewing, some of whom she developed true friendships with, and even visited her after she moved residences.

A celebration of life will be conducted at the convenience of the family.

Donations in her honor can be made to FLCC Foundation 3325 Marvin Sands Dr. Canandaigua, NY 14424 or visit www.flcc.edu.

To share a memory or express condolences online, please visit www.fullerfh.com