The wife of former Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis has died.
Doctor Michelle Prince died early Sunday morning after a five-year "cancer journey", according to a statement by Francis on Facebook.
In the statement Francis says Prince asked him, "not to let anyone suggest she lost her battle with Cancer; as for the last five years she was choosing to live life and not the disease."
"Today we celebrate the remarkable and inspired life of my wife Michelle Prince who passed away this morning after a very public five-year cancer journey.
She always asked me not to let anyone suggest she lost her battle with Cancer; as for the last five years she was choosing to live life and not the disease.
She chose to live life despite all that she was facing. She chose to enjoy every day despite three-major surgeries and 80-cycles of chemo administered every other week.
She always showed her smile!!
She celebrated the positives and in doing so she inspired many to do the same.
Our family and friends have promised her that we would celebrate her life by remembering to live each and every day in the moment.
She is our hero.
We can’t begin to thank the many of you for all of your support and prayers. Each and everyone one of you lifted her up on her most challenging and difficult days and for that we are eternally grateful.
More details will follow.
Our Michelle has joined her friends and they are dancing!!
Thank you for your continued prayers.
E"
The wife, mother, fundraiser, healthcare promoter, and chiropractor chose to inspire others and engage her disease in a positive way.
She helped raise more than $1.5-million for a new hospital, created a care package program to help people cope with treatment, and shared videos demonstrating how therapies work and how to stay positive.
A stretch reviewing movies on AM800's The Morning Drive turned into 30-years of friendship between Prince and Tourism Windsor-Essex Pelee Island CEO Gordon Orr.
He says despite three major-surgeries and 80-cycles of chemotherapy she was always upbeat and willing to share her story.
"I think at the end of the day we are celebrating her life in witness because she had such a positive impact on family, community and she also has left her mark on helping those suffering through cancer as well," says Orr. "She stared cancer in the face and she didn't blink and I think it's a testament to her true legacy that she looked at how she could out live any of the doctors predictions and to keep cramming as much life as she could into those last five years since diagnosis."
Current Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens tells AM800 News watching her handle her illness with grace is an inspiration.
"She found the positivity in everything and she taught people, especially since her diagnosis, that living every day to the fullest is really important," he says. "She was a very inspiring person ... it's a sad day to lose her, but I think everyone that was touched by Michelle Prince is a better person."
Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj says he lost a friend and Windsor lost a champion for healthcare.
"She participated in multiple health care events, be it doing videos showing others about her journey and making them less nervous about their own personal journey through chemotherapy, or just being part of the discussion about healthcare and trying to improve it," says Musyj.
An emotional Musyj says her whole family was positive, right up until the end.
"I just had my 50th birthday and he [Eddie] sent me an email wishing me a happy birthday and I knew she was struggling. I couldn't believe it," says Musyj. "That just shows you the type of people Michelle and Eddie are and my prayers are to him and his family."
Prince leaves behind Francis and two children, she was 46 years old.