Sincere condolences to Michelle's family.

My sincerest condolences to the family. Michelle and I would always chat in the halls on the stairs at Schulich on many, many parenting advice/dilemmas. I will miss those chats and laughs. I am so sorry for your loss. Heaven has gained an Angel.

My deepest condolences
Maria Rizzuto

I served on the DEI committee at Schulich with Michelle. She was so passionate and engaged, at times so raw and vulnerable. She helped me understand issues differently (and better), and was such a strong, positive influence. I will miss her.

Michelle was always so courageous and compassionate, and her spirit has left a lasting impact on me. I’ll remember our time working together in the DEI working group fondly. Her legacy lives strong through the work we do every day. Thank you Michelle.

My deepest condolences to Michelle’s family and loved ones,

Brent Lyons

Tears for this news. Michelle was so wonderful to work with and learn from. She held us accountable and pressed us to be better people every day. I learned so much from being around her and working alongside her. Her passion for helping young people and supporting Black Youth to find their brightest path was unparalleled. She will be missed. I will miss her.

Michelle was an incredible woman who was dedicated to her family, career and community. She was often seen at events working behind the scene even when she was an invited guest. Michelle believed everything should be done with excellence and conducted herself accordingly. She will be dearly missed. I hold on to our last photo and last memory together. She was a brave soul. In facing the last round of her illness she kept smiling and hoping. Rest well my friend. You did well.

Michelle was the strongest woman I’ve known. Her smiling face and positive energy was remarkable. The last conversation we had was regarding family, spirituality and culture, I will always cherish her words and remember her for being an optimistic soul.

You will be missed.

Michelle was a caring ,energetic, and loving personality. She was committed to causes and was intent on making the world a better place. She was inspiring as well as outspoken on social justice issues. She was a people person…no wall flower our Michelle! She will be missed by all who knew her.
Rest in peace and take your rest. We will hold your children within our circle of love. RIP

My dear cousin, always loved and will forever be missed.

Hughes Fam

Dearest Michelle,

Rest In Peace. You gave us so much and you've made the world better by being in it. Sending grace for your journey.

Michelle - it was a privilege to know you and work with you. Your kindness, humour and passion were an inspiration to all of us. You were one of those rare individuals who always seemed to have time for people.

My heartfelt condolences go out to your family. You will me missed by many.

To the Hughes Family,
Michelle truly was a gem of a person. She wasn't just a colleague. She always tried to connect with people on a personal level. I remember returning to work after my 1st maternity leave, and Michelle made it a point to come and check in on me all the time. She would remind me that although it was hard to be away from our babies, our work was something that we needed to do for ourselves. That advice was something that gave me so much solace, and it's advise that I continue to give to my friends in the same situation today.

Michelle's positive attitude, her kind nature, her humour and her passion for justice will truly be missed. She was one of a kind.

Sending the family lots of love, strength and courage.

Sending my deepest condolences and prayers to Michelle's family, friends, and loved ones. Michelle was an absolute light in my educational journey and I am so blessed and forever grateful to have met her and crossed paths. I met Michelle in the summer of 2020 during my interviewing and application process of applying to my master's program at Schulich School of Business. I remember being so nervous about my interview with Michelle and feeling an instant feeling of relief and peace the moment that my interview commenced. Michelle was a positive light and a force to be reckoned with. She was truly a breath of fresh air, and her support and her belief in me truly meant the world. She was extremely pivotal in my successful educational path. She connected me with other BIPOC students in my cohort and has helped me in so many ways that she may not fully know. I will forever cherish her in my heart. I hope to make her proud and I hope to be one of the many testaments of her perseverance, dedication, and caring nature. May she rest in eternal peace and light.

Very sorry to hear this. God Bless.

Michelle was such a steady force in the admissions department. She always knew what was happening, and always had ideas of how to make it even better. I really enjoyed the many conversations with her, also about life outside Schulich. Michelle, you will be sorely missed in so many ways!

My deepest sympathy to her family.

Your candid enthusiasm, honesty, passion, dedication, and commitment will be missed. It was a pleasure to working with you and may you rest in power!

Sincere condolences to Michelle Hughes's family, friends, and Schulich colleagues. Mrs. Hughes was a spirited force for good and a welcoming presence who made York University a better place for all.

I am shocked and saddened to learn of Michelle's passing. We worked together on many student events over the years, and it was always a delight.

Rest in peace, Michelle, and sincere condolence to her family and friends.

Your candid enthusiasm, honesty, passion, dedication, and commitment will be missed. It was a pleasure to work with you and may you rest in power!

Dear Violet, John, Sage, Johan and Christopher,
I was devastated to hear of Michelle's passing, one of the most loving individuals that I was so fortunate to have in my life. She fought her cancers with such strength and courage, with incredible positivity and determination. She loved you all so fiercely, including her dad and brother. I will miss Michelle's spirit and passion for her community, inside of outside of Schulich. Michelle was one of the very few people who not only was only dedicated to ensuring the voice of the black community was heard, but always was by my side when there were inequalities that impacted my own community. Michelle was a true advocate for positive change all around her. I will forever miss our conversations, sharing Instagram stories with each other, and most importantly her vibrant laugh that you could hear from a mile away. I pray that her honour and legacy will always cherished at the Schulich School of Business, York University and beyond.

May her memory always be a blessing. BDE.

Dear John, Sage (Samantha), Johan, Christopher and Aunti Vi ~ Sharing a photo from my wedding day back in 2002. I love this photo of Michelle and the look of love on her face as she cradles baby Sage in her arms. Michelle was so proud of her children - they were the light of her life and family was everything to her. Michelle welcomed many into her extended family, myself included, she was a bright light for so many in this world and her kind and loving influence impacted so many. Our world will never be the same without her, sending prayers and love to the family 🙏💗

I had the opportunity to work with Michelle for close to 10 years at Schulich. I appreciated her sense of humour - her fabulous laugh, her ability to connect with others and put them at ease. Michelle called it as she saw it. You never had to guess what Michelle thought - she was transparent, direct and at times brutally honest. It was refreshing.

Michelle cared deeply about community and that was evident in the way she connected with students and staff. Alumni would drop by and share stories and hugs with michelle.

Michelle was unconventional and did things in her own way and in her own time but no matter what the circumstance, Michelle always took the time to drop by and chat and shoot the breeze.

Michelle loved her family - we exchanged many stories about our kids and their adventures and misadventures and talents.

My sincere condolences go out to her three beautiful children, her mom and her husband. Michelle was an incredible person who lived life fully and was taken too soon.

We have lost the conscience of our faculty on so many sensitive matters and a voice of reason and sensibility. Michelle taught me/us so much and always did it with her unique capacity to be both forceful and gentle

My deepest sympathy to John, Yohan, Christopher, Samantha and Michelle's Mom. Heaven has certainly gained an angel. I am gonna miss you so much dear friend. You were more than just my colleague, you were such a great friend. Going to miss our chats about life, family and especially our kids. Rest in eternal peace.

Michelle was one of those people who actually made working at Schulich enjoyable; she was intelligent,sharp, funny, and her sense of humour was always on point. You always knew where you stood with Michelle; you could tell by her gravel tone of voice whether you were in for a bit of fun or a bit of chiding. She was a good friend, an exceptional work-mate, and a proud mom. May her memory be a blessing. Michelle will be missed.