Michelle Marie Reinert

Michelle Marie Reinert was born February 1, 1953. She was the oldest of 6 children. 2 brothers, Earl and Christopher and 3 sisters, Elaine, Lorrie and Mary. Michelle graduated from Pawtucket West High School class of 1971. She was accepted for admission at the Newport Hospital School of Nursing... graduating class of 1974. She put herself through the program by working at a nursing home in Pawtucket on weekends and through the summers of 1971, 72, and 73. She was able to purchase a Camaro with a little help from her Dad and it enabled her to get back and forth from Pawtucket to Newport.

Michelle graduated with honors and won an award for her skills in pediatric nursing. It was the summer of 1974. She met her husband Bob Reinert in December of 1973 and they dated right through her graduation in the summer of 1974. The young couple were married several months later, October 4, 1974. They soon realized that life of an over the road truck driver was not conducive to a strong marriage. The day after their honeymoon Bob left on an 8 day trip to So. Carolina and Tennessee... not good! They got the wonderlust and decided to give Southern California a shot... Michelle was fearless and a wonderful companion. They loaded up the Camaro and headed west arriving in San Diego 5 days later. Michelle quickly found work at El Cajon Valley Hospital where she made gobs of friends and really got into her vocation as an R.N. She was loved by her supervisors and co-workers alike. Bob found work as a local freight driver and joined the teamsters union. In 1976 thanks to Michelle's urgings the young couple bought their first home. A sweet little home that they fixed up real nice. They had their only child, Adelle while working on their fixer upper. It was fun and Michelle was extraordinary in every sense. She was a natural at making a house into a home and bringing up a child. She took it really serious and took a three year sabbatical so she could raise Adelle right! What a woman and mother she was. She went back to work and we bought a bigger more comfortable home. She made that place into a show case with her flair for decorating. Adelle walked to her grammar school with Mom or Dad every day, we loved up our 2 beagles and had a wonderful life there. Adelle excelled in school and had ambitions from the get go to get a good education. Michelle moved around in her career as better opportunities arose, as did Bob. Nest thing you know Adelle is heading up to San Francisco to college, her and her friend driving her Datsun the 500 miles north to San Francisco State where is obtained her B.A. Then back to San Diego where she earned her Masters at UCSD.

Bob continued his trucking career and thanks to the Teamsters Union he was able to retire in 2009. Michelle also retired at this time due to health problems, which would plaque her for the rest of her shortened life. Adelle went on to her career as an English Instructor at Grossmont College where she is employed now. Michelle was a dog person from the time she was a child, her family had a bulldog

named Spunk. Very shortly after we relocated to the West Coast we picked up a couple of Beagles, Lance and Guinny. She loved those dogs and when they passed on Bella came on the scene, a rough coat Jack Russell, a real sweetie. We also took in Gilbert, Adelle's first dog. She had gone to Europe and by the time she came back, Gilbert was so entrenched with us that we all decided she should end her years with Michelle and Bob. The neighbors loved her as much as we did.

Lola, our Basenji was by far Michelle's favorite. She is slowly adjusting to her life without "Mommy" but it is tough. There was a bond between them one would have to see to appreciate. Michelle was a loving wife, extraordinary homemaker, a skilled R.N. revered by her co-workers and supervisors alike. To say I was proud of her, would be an understatement. She was a homebody to the max! Very content to stay home and make it special. She took care of me and the "girls" with her intuition and smarts and we were much better for it. Her health problems at the end were virtually hopeless, she was bombarded from every angle with serious maladies and in the end when she had the evil breathing tube out, the pain gone there was a peaceful, serene expression on her face as she slipped away. It was very reassuring to me and all that came to see her... She was going to a far better place...I will miss her forever. I hope she is with some of her beloved pets from past years as I write this... I love you my Michelle.....

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to senior dog rescue Lionel's Legacy: lionelslegacy.org