It is with great sadness that we announce that Michelle Noga passed away on the 31 ^st day of March, 2022 at the young age of 42.  Michelle was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at an early age. She was diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria later in adult life.

She is survived by her parents Michael and Aija and her brothers Christopher and Jonathan.

We want to emphasize the caliber of family member that we lost. Her ability to remember and recite events in the distant past was unfathomable. Her perseverance never ceased to amaze us when she rode her bicycle. She practiced impressions of family members, friends and famous people. Her choice of words and speaking style was strikingly accurate. Michelle would often share insights and opinions that highlighted mature and educated interests: world issues, medicine, mathematics, history, languages, to name a few. We lost an insightful intellectual. She could be refreshingly unfiltered in her thoughts and opinions and loved to laugh.

She also loved trains. Wherever she is now, there lies an infinite and everlasting distance of track ahead to enjoy as she pleases. No challenges. No struggles. Only acceptance and happiness.

In mourning the loss of Michelle Noga, a familiar proverb comes to mind: "It requires a village to raise a child". Michelle's identity, challenges, and gifts connected our family with others during the course of her life. We want to thank Dr. Alan Brown for his compassionate relationship with Michelle as her psychiatrist for 39 years. He has been instrumental in educating our family about Michelle's unique challenges. We also want to thank Woodview Manor, a residential setting in Hamilton for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Woodview Manor was her home and provided unconditional support for Michelle for more than 20 years. Woodview Manor enriched Michelle's life beyond measure. Last but not least, we would like to thank the medical team at Juravinski Hospital for doing everything humanly possible to give her a chance at survival in her battle with acute pancreatitis. We are forever grateful for the contributions from the McMaster School of Medicine, and for the selfless determination, compassion and personal care given to Michelle by Dr. Simon Oczkowski and his ICU team. They are heroes.

Visitation will be held at the Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville (one block East of Kerr Street) on Tuesday April 5 from 7 pm – 9 pm.  Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday April 6, at St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church, 2415 Rebecca Street, Oakville commencing with a tribute offered by Michelle's brother Jonathan, at 9:45 am, 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the mass which commences at 10 am.   Please plan to arrive at the church by 9:40 a.m. to allow a period of respectful silence before the mass begins.

If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations to the Woodview Manor Adult Autism Program would be very much appreciated by the family.