Michelle McElroy

DACULA - Michelle McElroy, 32, died unexpectedly the morning of August 31, 2009, Monday.

She worked as a children's emergency nurse at Gwinnett Medical and changed lives every day with her smile, deep caring and laughter. She walked through life, hand in hand with her twin sister and best friend, Jennifer, who also worked in the same emergency room with her. Michelle touched the lives of anyone's path she crossed and everyone was the better for it. Words cannot capture the way she lit up a room, the way she could make you laugh or the sweet, sweet spirit she was. She will be greatly missed by so many.

Survivors include her twin sister and best friend, Jennifer McElroy; her mom and stepdad, Karen and David Coholich; her dad and stepmom, Tom and Donna McElroy; her loving boyfriend, Ryan West; her five stepsisters, Tiffany Coholich Bishop, Christine and Danielle Coholich and Christina McElroy and Brandy Buford; maternal grandmother, Frances Helms; paternal grandmother, Betty McElroy and paternal grandparents, Bernie and Dolores Coholich.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 4 at 2 p.m. at the Embry Hills United Methodist Church in Chamblee with Chuck Christie officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to ALS Association, 27001 Agoura Road, Suite 250, Calabasas Hills, CA 91301 or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, September 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Wages & Sons Gwinnett Chapel, 1031 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville, 770-277-4550, is in charge of arrangements.