Michelle Rose (Gress) Masse, 57, of Terryville, beloved wife of Dean Masse, died on Friday, Jan. 20, at Village Green. Michelle was born in Bristol on Jan. 26, 1965, and was one of two daughters of Frank and Hughette (Beaulieu) Gress of Bristol. She was raised and schooled in Bristol where she practiced Majorette with Sandy’s Baton Studio. She graduated from St. Paul Catholic High School in 1983 where she was a member of the Majorette team.
Following high school, she enlisted to serve in the United States Army where she was trained as a light vehicle mechanic. She was called to active duty to serve overseas during Operation Desert Storm. She worked as a letter carrier for the Plainville Post Office for 28 years until her illness. Michelle enjoyed motorcycle rides, spending time at the Rhode Island beaches, watching sports, going to WolfPack games, crafts, and decorating.
She was a past grand marshal for the Bristol Mum Festival as a Gulf War veteran and was a parishioner of St. Francis de Sales Parish devoted to St. Anthony Church, Bristol. In addition to her husband and parents, Michelle is survived by a daughter: Alexandra Willard; her sister: Lynn (Gress) Dunn; mother-in-law: Muriel Masse; brother-in-law: Eric Masse and wife, Kim; sisters-in-law: Debra Healey and James, and Charlene Key and Al; nieces and nephews: Meghann (Dunn) Mendez and husband, Jualbert, Paige, Erica, Chloe, Zack, Trina, Chris, Angela, and Teigan; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 9 a.m. from Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Ave., Bristol, to St. Anthony Church, 111 School St., Bristol for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. followed by military final honors. Entombment will be at the convenience of the family at the State of Connecticut Veterans’ Cemetery, Middletown.
Relatives and friends may call at Funk Funeral Home on Friday between 4 and 8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation (garysinisefoundation.org) or to the Dementia Society of America (dementiasociety.org).
Please visit Michelle’s memorial website at www.FunkFuneralHome.com.
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