Michele A. McGrath Aravich died after a seven-year battle with breast cancer on Monday, June 9, 2025, at her home in Hampton, VA. She was 72 years old and is survived by her husband, Paul Aravich, of Hampton, VA, to whom she was married 49 years, 11 months and four days (18,236 sunsets). He is employed by Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA. She is also survived by her son, Zachary McGrath Aravich (Chanelle Doctor), the source of her greatest joy and the pride of her life who lives in Norfolk, VA. He is a special education teacher at Newport Academy for students with emotional disabilities at the New Horizons Regional Education Centers, Newport News, VA, and a long-time musician with the College of William and Mary's Middle Eastern Ensemble, Williamsburg, VA. Other survivors include her sisters, Colleen Lettko (David), Troy, NY; Paula McGrath, Pittsfield, MA, and Heather McGrath (Jacob R. Stine), Mechanicville, NY. Other survivors include her loving niece, Ashley Lenski, and her beautiful daughter, Scarlett, Waterbury, VT, and nephew Alex Lenski (Rowshni), Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

Michele was as delicate and beautiful as the butterfly that touched her last summer after cancer treatment. She fully loved her husband and son and enjoyed the simple things in life. She also cherished Ma's pool and Christmas wigilia dinners in Troy; coffee ice cream and raspberries; Nelligan's almond-paste coffee cake (Troy); Cassell's pizza and Alberto's restaurant in Troy; Randazzo's shrimp scampi (Sheepshead Bay) and Dr. Brown's Cream Soda; Arab cuisine on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn; Marine Park and the Brooklyn Promenade overlooking Manhattan; Distillery wings in Rochester and Bill's Barbecue in Hampton; sitting in the sun and enjoying the beauty of the Fall season; McDonald's Garden Center on the holidays and Blue Skies Gallery in Hampton; the music of the Beatles, James Taylor, John Denver, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce and the Clancy Brothers; a close-knit group of friends at the Wythe pool in Hampton; the Armstrong Elementary School PTA and the Eaton Middle School and Phoebus High School bands in Hampton; the William and Mary Middle Eastern Ensemble; Riis Park Beach in Queens and Grand Anse beach in Grenada; the Hampton Public Library, and books --- always more books; the wonder of lily of the valley and violets; Halloween and Christmas decorating; shopping adventures; her cherished cats; "Chicago Fire" marathons and Judge Judy (to the horror of her husband); and above all a simple, humble life well lived.

No preschool teacher loved her kids more than Michele at Wythe Presbyterian Preschool in Hampton, and no preschool teacher spent more time decorating her rooms and doors. Michele was born in Newark, NJ, in 1953 and was pre-deceased by her mother and father, Carol (Lapinski) and Francis McGrath, along with her loving Aunt and Uncle, Helen and John Lapinski. She was raised in Troy, where she graduated from Catholic Central High School. She met her future husband while working in the reference library section at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy. He then pulled her away from family and friends to live in New York City. While at first intimidated, she grew to love it and worked for the Executive Vice President of the American Stock Exchange; at the League School in Brooklyn, a pioneering school for students with severe emotional and behavioral disabilities; and for what is now the AHRC NYC for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Brooklyn. Her husband pulled her away again to Rochester, NY, where she adopted her beloved Aunt Helen Lapinski who had an intellectual disability but filled all spaces with the opera. In 1987, her husband moved her yet again to the Old Wythe section of Hampton, VA, where her son, Zachary, was raised and where she lived until her death. The family is grateful to the kind and expert care from Virginia Oncology Associates and from Personal-Touch home hospice, both in Newport News, VA; they treated this loving and vulnerable person touched by a butterfly with great respect and dignity.

The family invites you to a Celebration of Life to share memories, offer condolences and support the family. Please stop by any time between 1 and 4 PM, Saturday, June 21, 2025, to the Fellowship Hall of Wythe Presbyterian Church, 151 Robinson Road, Hampton, VA 23661. Finger food will be provided. A separate Celebration of Life will be scheduled for a later date in Troy, NY.

In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to the American Cancer Society or to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.