Michelle Ignat's Obituary
Michelle Ann Ignat, age 48, passed away Friday, January 4, 2019. She was a graduate of Gaither High School in 1988. Michelle went on to earn a B.S. degree in Finance and an M.B.A. Michelle and her husband, Paul of twenty years, raised two good and kind young men, Nickolas and Matthew. Michelle served as a faithful and loyal employee of Ford Motor Credit for 23 years. Her career moved her family to many different cities in Florida, but she ultimately made it back to Tampa where she held the position of Center Operations Manager of Dealer Services. Michelle was a fun-loving person who enjoyed traveling with her family. She was especially fond of hiking in the state parks of Georgia. Michelle was an active member of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, where she volunteered in various capacities. She battled metastatic breast cancer for 10 years. Her faith in Christ gave her the strength to thrive and serve as an inspiration to others who were suffering. Michelle will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her.
Preceded in death by her grandparents, Franklin and Ann Smeltzer, James and Ann Lamanna; father Robert Smeltzer. She is survived by her mother Patricia Smeltzer, her husband of 20 years Paul Ignat; 2 sons Nickolas and Matthew Ignat; brother Robert Smeltzer (Cindy); sister Nancy Stringfield (Jim); brother-in-law Michael Ignat; sister-in-law Maria Townsley (Eric); uncle James Lamanna (Margaret); aunt Patricia Krotzer (Bill); 9 nieces and nephews, Jessica Baker, Tyler Smeltzer, Nathan and Lauren Stringfield, Janael, Michael, Courtney and Kelli Ignat, and Lucy Townsley; 3 cousins Christine Lamanna, Stacy Mueller, and Samantha Krotzer.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM Saturday, January 12, 2019 at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 9724 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa, FL 33647, with a reception to follow Mass held at Hunter’s Green Country Club, 18101 Longwater Run Dr., Tampa, FL 33647. The family will receive friends from 11:00-12:00 PM prior to Mass.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation at moffitt.org and P.O. Box 23827, Tampa, FL 33623-3827.
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