Michelle McConnell Obituary (1970-2025) · Chandler, Arizona, United...

Dr. Michelle McConnell, ND: Beloved wife, daughter, stepdaughter, mother figure, cousin, friend, and healer

Dr. Michelle Yvonne McConnell (Pike), ND, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2025, after a courageous five-year battle with breast cancer. She was surrounded by love, strength, and the unwavering support of her family, just as she had lived her life.

Michelle’s life was a testament to purpose, compassion, and devotion. As a naturopathic doctor, she served patients throughout Arizona and Utah with extraordinary dedication. Her gentle presence, deep knowledge, and heartfelt care made her not just a practitioner, but a true healer. She had a gift for making others feel seen, understood, and empowered, and countless lives were changed by her touch.

At age 50, Michelle experienced one of the greatest joys of her life, marrying the love of her life, Craig Pike. In that same season, she learned of her breast cancer diagnosis. With extraordinary grace and bravery, she stepped into marriage and into the fight ahead with her whole heart. The love she shared with Craig became a profound source of strength, comfort, and hope throughout her journey. Their marriage was a beautiful example of devotion, loyalty, and love through both joy and hardship.

Michelle was known for her beautiful, radiant smile, her perfect eyebrows, and her vibrant spirit. She loved running and proudly earned her large race medals, each one a symbol of her determination and joy for life. Her favorite symbol was the dragonfly: a sign of transformation, strength, and light. To those who loved her, the dragonfly will forever remind them of Michelle’s grace, resilience, and the way she continually rose above challenges with beauty and courage.

She treasured her family deeply. Michelle is survived by her father Ken McConnell, her stepmother Gaylyn Latimer, and her mother Vally Donada. She is also survived by her brother Jason McConnell and his daughter, her beloved niece Ella McConnell, whom Michelle absolutely adored.

Michelle shared a special bond with her cousins, including Mike & Lori Donada, Eric Donada, David & Kasandra Henry, and their twins, Olivia and Jamie, who she loved so much and who brought her immense joy.

She also leaves behind her closest friends, Jenny, Wade, and their son Xavan, whom Michelle had the honor of being present for at his birth. Their friendship was more like chosen family, steadfast and loving through every season of her life.

She leaves behind Craig and a family who loved her with their whole hearts. Though her time here was far too short, her impact is immeasurable. Michelle’s compassion, brilliance, and love will continue to guide and inspire all who were blessed to know her.

Her family takes comfort in knowing she is finally at peace, free from pain, uplifted by the same light and freedom symbolized by the dragonfly she cherished, and reunited with loved ones who went before her.

“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”

Those who wish to honor Michelle's memory are invited to .

Memorial created on April 3, 2026. Last updated on June 29, 2026.

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Jason McConnell·Apr 17

**The 5K That Wasn't** It was 2023, we all came together in Arizona, ready to run a 5K, we even had matching T-Shirts that honored our support of Michelle's fight against cancer. This was the kind of plan that sounds simple but means everything when life keeps pulling people in different directions. We showed up. That part, we got right. But Arizona had other ideas that morning. The sky turned grey and the air went cold and drizzly, the kind of weather that has no business showing up in the desert. Michelle looked at the course, looked at what we were wearing, and made the only reasonable executive decision available to her: we are not dressed for this. And she was absolutely right. Across the street, warm and glowing and perfectly placed, was an IHOP. So we did what any sensible family would do. We grabbed our medals. We grabbed our goodie bags. And we walked across the street and sat down to breakfast like the champions we clearly already were. We earned those medals. Just not the way anyone planned. That was Michelle, practical, honest, and somehow always steering us toward the better moment. We didn't run a 5K that day. We did something better. We sat together, laughed together, and made a memory that will outlast any finish line.

T

Tanya D Eisman·Apr 3

My wish is for every tree planted to be in a different location around the world so Michelle can travel and be everywhere in SPIRIT that she wasn't able to be in life.Rest in Peace, remembered with Love.

E

Emily Green·Apr 3

Dr. Michelle McConnell touched so many lives with her compassionate spirit and healing presence. Her warmth, dedication, and kindness will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

J

Jason McConnell·Apr 3

**Renaissance & The Incense Shop** Every year, it started the same way. The moment we passed through the gates of the Renaissance Festival, Michelle knew exactly where she was going. Not to the jousting, not to the turkey legs ... to the incense shop. That was our ritual, our first stop, the beginning of everything. The smoke curling up in that little stall was somehow the smell of the whole day ahead of us. I was never much for incense myself. I couldn't have told you the difference between one stick and another. But my daughter and I went with her, every time, because that shop wasn't really about the incense. It was about her. It was the look of joy on her face when she found what she wanted, and the way the day opened up after that, unhurried and full of possibility. This past February, my daughter walked into that shop without her, because that's what you do with a tradition that matters. You carry it forward, even when carrying it hurts. I think my sister would have wanted that, I think she would have said, "yes, go, keep going." I burn incense now. I never did before. I light a stick and let the smoke rise, and somewhere in the scent of it, I find her again ... standing at the first shop inside the gates, excited to take in the smells and find something that she loved.

J

Jason McConnellApr 17

**The 5K That Wasn't** It was 2023, we all came together in Arizona, ready to run a 5K, we even had matching T-Shirts that honored our support of Michelle's fight against cancer. This was the kind of plan that sounds simple but means everything when life keeps pulling people in different directions. We showed up. That part, we got right. But Arizona had other ideas that morning. The sky turned grey and the air went cold and drizzly, the kind of weather that has no business showing up in the desert. Michelle looked at the course, looked at what we were wearing, and made the only reasonable executive decision available to her: we are not dressed for this. And she was absolutely right. Across the street, warm and glowing and perfectly placed, was an IHOP. So we did what any sensible family would do. We grabbed our medals. We grabbed our goodie bags. And we walked across the street and sat down to breakfast like the champions we clearly already were. We earned those medals. Just not the way anyone planned. That was Michelle, practical, honest, and somehow always steering us toward the better moment. We didn't run a 5K that day. We did something better. We sat together, laughed together, and made a memory that will outlast any finish line.

T

Tanya D EismanApr 3

My wish is for every tree planted to be in a different location around the world so Michelle can travel and be everywhere in SPIRIT that she wasn't able to be in life.Rest in Peace, remembered with Love.

E

Emily GreenApr 3

Dr. Michelle McConnell touched so many lives with her compassionate spirit and healing presence. Her warmth, dedication, and kindness will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

J

Jason McConnellApr 3

**Renaissance & The Incense Shop** Every year, it started the same way. The moment we passed through the gates of the Renaissance Festival, Michelle knew exactly where she was going. Not to the jousting, not to the turkey legs ... to the incense shop. That was our ritual, our first stop, the beginning of everything. The smoke curling up in that little stall was somehow the smell of the whole day ahead of us. I was never much for incense myself. I couldn't have told you the difference between one stick and another. But my daughter and I went with her, every time, because that shop wasn't really about the incense. It was about her. It was the look of joy on her face when she found what she wanted, and the way the day opened up after that, unhurried and full of possibility. This past February, my daughter walked into that shop without her, because that's what you do with a tradition that matters. You carry it forward, even when carrying it hurts. I think my sister would have wanted that, I think she would have said, "yes, go, keep going." I burn incense now. I never did before. I light a stick and let the smoke rise, and somewhere in the scent of it, I find her again ... standing at the first shop inside the gates, excited to take in the smells and find something that she loved.

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Michelle Yvonne McConnell

Dr. Michelle McConnell, ND: Beloved wife, daughter, stepdaughter, mother figure, cousin, friend, and healer

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