PORTLAND, OR: It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Mackenzie “Kenzie” Elizabeth Michalski, 31, of Portland, Oregon, who died on November 5, 2024 while on vacation in Budapest, Hungary. Born in Buffalo on January 18, 1993, the firstborn child of William and Jill (Burek) Michalski, she was raised in Fredonia.
Since early childhood Kenzie loved amusement parks, Halloween, and haunted houses. She enjoyed family trips to Gettysburg and Philadelphia as well as annual visits to Florida. An avid music fan, Kenzie saw hundreds of bands at numerous concerts and always stood as close to the stage as possible. Warped Tour at Darien Lake and the ETID Christmas show were among her favorites.
Mackenzie graduated from Fredonia High School in 2010. She received her A.A.S. in Nursing from Trocaire College (’13), her B.S. in Nursing (’14) and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner M.S. (’16) from Daemen College, all with honors. She was also a recipient of the competitive Advanced Nursing Education Expansion grant for her Nurse Practitioner training.
Kenzie worked as a registered nurse, charge nurse, nurse preceptor, and critical care nurse practitioner in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit and Medical Intensive Care Unit at Buffalo General Medical Center, where she was born. At the time of her death Kenzie was a Neurosurgery Nurse Practitioner at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Oregon.
Kenzie touched so many lives with her indescribably magical personality, unique sense of humor, tireless energy, amazing sense of style, strong work ethic, and dedication to helping others.
She led a life dedicated to community service. In addition to diligent work at hospitals in Buffalo and Portland were her volunteer trips abroad with Hope For Tomorrow Foundation to Haiti and Ghana. Here she worked with like-minded medical professionals donating time and expertise to provide medical treatment to patients who were otherwise unable to receive help in these impoverished places.
An experienced world traveler, her favorite destinations included Budapest, Thailand, and Vietnam. She also toured through Europe and visited Egypt, Iceland and India. Not a casual tourist or vacationer, Kenzie immersed herself in the history and culture of each destination, making the most of every trip. Her domestic adventures included skydiving, rock climbing, skiing and scuba diving. A devoted lover of nature and animals, she enjoyed caring for a wide variety of pets throughout her life.
Kenzie is survived and mourned by her loving parents, William and Jill Michalski; cherished brother Nicholas; adoring grandmothers’ Joyce Michalski and Joanne Burek; aunts, uncles and cousins; her beloved miniature dachshund Juniper; and countless dear friends and colleagues. She was predeceased by her paternal grandfather Ronald Michalski and her maternal grandfather Thomas Burek.
A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held at Asbury Hall, 341 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 12:00pm, with a reception to follow until 4:00pm.
The family suggests memorial donations may be made to the Oregon Dachshund Rescue Inc. at odr-inc.org or the Multnomah County Central Library.
Kenzie’s memory and legacy will endure in the hearts of all whom she touched. To understand her spirit is to wholeheartedly embrace the vast joy and wonder of life. Kenzie’s wish for the world: fully embrace the present moment, be your authentic self, practice kindness, and always walk in the light.
We love you to infinity and beyond.
Local arrangements are by Riles & Woolley Funeral Home, Forestville. To post condolences or memories go to https://rilesandwoolleyfuneralhome.com
8 Comments
William Ferneza
Our condolences to your family.
Paula and Bill Ferneza
Rev. Joanne Copley-Nigro
No words can express my deepest sympathy for the loss of such a beautiful soul. May her love from spirit bring you peace and comfort in the days ahead.
Chris Binnert
My heart is broken. We are all at a great loss. I will forever love and miss my friend!
Agnes Toth
I did not know Kenzie, I live in Budapest, Hungary, and I can say that so many of us in this country are devastated by this tragic loss and we send our heartfelt condolences to all mourning her loss. May the family find peace in your hearts, and we wish you strength throughout this great grief. From many of us here in Budapest, we do keep all of you in our hearts and we think of Kenzie and her family and loved ones to this day with much sympathy. Take care, with love from Budapest!
Denise Horvath
It’s been a long time since I worked with Bill at Quest Diagnostics but you never forget your “work family”. He on occasion brought Mackenzie and Nick in the office. I was deeply saddened to hear of Mackenzie’s passing. I just want you to know our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Denise and Mike Horvath & family
Jen Kowalewski-Nowacki
I am so very sorry to hear of Mackenzie’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with all of her family and friends.
Ken
Kenzie’s vibrancy and excitement for what she would do next is etched in my memory under Unforgettable. My heart is with her dear family and friends during this devastating time. May the future bring you solace and peace.
Erik Rutherford
Me and Mackenzie didn’t know each other but quincidentally we were both on separate adventures together in the world on EXACT same dates. My heart felt sorrow goes out to Mackenzie and her family. I know how dangerous travel can be and encountered a safety situation myself on my trip that I managed to dodge gratefully. I too had visited Buda-Pest on past occasions that’s why this is all too eerie and I also found some pecuilar or daunting about the Pest and untrusting. I didn’t get that far to ruin bars but I tested my luck on the Pearl of the Danube and just took careful steps along with my Intrepid Travel companions. From Canada