Michelle Renee Smieja

That Michelle Smieja, 63, of Edina was called home to be with God more than 10 years after an oncologist told her she had a year to live says everything about Michelle's character. Her death August 4, 2026, in Hopkins concludes a life driven by determination and imbued with creativity. Born March 5, 1963, to Donald and LaDell (Maier) Smieja in Wells. Michelle grew up studying dance (tap was her favorite), playing clarinet and practicing piano until she could rightly be considered gifted. Her years at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph led to a bachelor's degree in art theory and history as well as circles of friends who remained tight until Michelle's dying day. By her own admission, Michelle was drawn to a nicer income than that which awaited her as a professional visual artist. She taught Dale Carnegie courses to corporate leaders and did contract project management for Securian Financial, Allianz Life, Wells Fargo, Optum and Ameriprise, among others. Weeks before her passing, she was still overseeing marketing measurement and data analytics initiatives for U.S. Bank. What made art major Michelle so good at left-brain assignments? According to both Michelle and her clients, her creativity! Michelle had a warrior spirit and, to her credit, life after her cancer diagnosis had a sparkle similar to before. A Wayzata Yacht Club crew member, she sailed Lake Minnetonka, Lake Superior and waters in between. She skied Whistler, British Columbia; visited London, Paris, Cairo and Luxor; and drove her parents in a rental camper through the Desert Southwest. She did multiple MS 150 cycling events and adapted her bike setup to keep riding. She loved decorating for Christmas, hosted extravagant Winter Olympics opening ceremony parties and prioritized beauty over function in her surroundings. And she gave back, singing alto in Mundus, the contemporary and world music ensemble at Minneapolis' Basilica of Saint Mary, and managing young adult programs at the parish. A Breath of Hope Lung Cancer Foundation tapped Michelle as an outreach advocate, while the American Lung Association put her on National Public Radio and sent her to Washington, D.C., to testify for research funding for early detection of lung cancer. While being vulnerable didn't come as naturally to Michelle as being strong, cancer proved an insistent teacher. She learned to asked for help, imperfect though its delivery may have been. Her faith in God never wavered, even on days when the physical threatened to overtake the spiritual. At the core of her battle was the belief that she was going to be in a better place at the end. "My soul is golden," she said as death drew near. Michelle leaves behind her beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Annie, who was literally by Michelle's side in sickness and in health, along with her parents, now of Monticello; siblings and in-laws Mike (Debby) Smieja of Eagan; Tony (Shannon) Smieja of Mahtomedi; and Melanie (Mike) Gustafson of St. Michael; eight nieces, one nephew, a great niece and a long list of dear friends who would do anything for her, and did. She is preceded in death by two close ones from college-Ann Ciliberti and Jane Muggli-in addition to grandparents Thomas and Lucy (Dubiel) Smieja and Edwin and Annie (Lapka) Maier. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, in the lower-level Calcutta Hall at The Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, with visitation one hour prior. Private interment at Saint John's Abbey Cemetery in Collegeville will follow at a later date. Memorials in Michelle's honor may be directed to A Breath of Hope Lung Cancer Foundation https://abreathofhope.org/ or the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict/Saint Benedict's Monastery https://sbm.osb.org/.

Michelle Renee Smieja

March 5, 1963 - August 4, 2026

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