Michelle Lee (Boise) Bernal

Michelle Lee Bernal (Boise), 48, of Wharton, passed away suddenly on June 22, 2023. She was born in Dover, NJ and was a lifelong resident of Wharton and Dover. She was baptized and took her First Holy Communion at St. Mary's Catholic Church. 

During her childhood, Michelle was very active, keeping busy with girl scouts, soccer, gymnastics, skating, bowling league and cheerleading.  She played the clarinet in the school band and played baseball with the Wharton Fire Department little league team.  She attended Wharton Public Schools and was a graduate of Morris Hills High School, class of 1992, where she graduated with her degree and license in Cosmetology.  In high school, Michelle participated in marching band, stage productions and was Secretary of VICA club (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America). 

For over 20 years, Michelle's passion was to make people look and feel beautiful through her work as a hairdresser/beautician at salons throughout Morris County, including Attitudes, Gentry Salons, Moxie Salon, ProHaircutters,  Sports Clips, Cutting Crew and Sportsmens.  Her extensive knowledge, expertise and creativity earned her a faithful following of clientele with whom she developed strong bonds throughout her career.  She was a good story-teller and a great listener, catering to customers of all ages. 

Michelle will be remembered with love for her kindness, her smile, her fire-cracker personality, her high-energy and her compassion for people of all walks of life. She loved to make people laugh and was good at it. Michelle enjoyed socializing, dining out and trying new foods, telling jokes, dancing, drinking and being the life of the party and will be missed by so many people she has befriended throughout her life.  

She is survived by her father, Michael Boise, of Bradenton, FL;  mother, Estelle Savage, of Holiday, FL;  brother Michael Boise of Las Vegas, NV; brother Mark Boise (Angela) of Wharton, NJ; sister Marie Boise of Wharton; brother Gary Savage from Wharton;  nephews:  Matthew, Jordan, Kristian, Eric, Nicky, and great-niece Gianna. 

Michelle's wish was to be remembered in life with happiness and did not want her friends and family to bear the sadness of a funeral. Instead, please raise a glass and have a toast next time you are in the place where you shared a memory with her and she will be watching and smiling from up above. 

Memorial donations can be made to St. Jude's Children Hospital or The Mental Health Association of NJ. 

"Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free. I'm following the path God has chosen for me. I took his hand when I heard Him call, I turned by back and left it all.  I could not stay another day, to laugh, to love, to work or play. Tasks left undone will stay that way, I've found now peace at the end of the day. Don't lengthen your pain with undue grief, God wanted me now, he set me free." 

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