Michele Parks

Michele L. Parks, 67, formerly of Avoca, New York, passed away on August 25, 2025, in Jacksonville, Florida.

Born on July 8, 1958, in Batavia, New York, to Thomas Lavarnway and Edith Riley Lavarnway, Michele was the eldest of four siblings.

Graduating in 1976 from South Seneca Central School in Ovid, NY, Michele went on to earn degrees from Highland Hospital School of Nursing in Rochester, NY, and Corning Community College in Corning, NY. She started her career as a Registered Nurse, shifting later to information technology and ultimately medically retiring as the Director of IT for Steuben Arc in 2006.

Michele married Daniel Parks on April 7, 1984, in Ovid, NY. This joyous union resulted in three children: Andrew, Caitlin, and Maura.

Michele shared her love through everyday joys, from playing the guitar, to sharing long conversations over cups of tea or watching flowers bloom in her garden. She revered nature, visiting many state and national parks and admiring the beauty of our nation while on road trips across the US. Michele loved staying up late reading books or watching Star Trek, so much so that her family nickname was 'the Owl'.

A true representative of Christ, Michele loved people with her entire heart. Her kindness and generosity to family, neighbors, and strangers alike personified grace to all who knew her. Known as the neighborhood 'Ma', her front door was always open for conversation, a cup of tea, or a meal. Everyone who visited Michele's home left with a sore belly from food and laughter.

Michele's extraordinary resilience shaped her life, as she overcame a lifetime with Polycystic Kidney Disease, two kidney transplants and almost a decade of dialysis. A true warrior queen, she faced adversity head-on with dignity, wit, and her particular brand of humor.

Michele is survived by her spouse, Daniel Parks, her son, Andrew Parks, her daughter Caitlin (Matthew) Myers and four step-grandchildren, her daughter Maura Parks, and her three siblings, Thomas (Kathy) Lavarnway, Carrie (Steve) VanBuren, and Timothy Lavarnway, as well as her loving pets and grand-pets.

Michele is preceded in death by her parents Edith and Thomas Lavarnway.

A Celebration of Life is planned for the summer of 2026 in Bath, New York.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial donations to be made in Michele's name to The Polycystic Kidney Foundation at: https://support.pkdcure.org/MicheleParks2025.