It is with great sadness that the family of Matea Nova Louiselle Rivera-Labiste announces her passing after four years of battling with an ovarian cancer on Sunday, June 24, 2018 at the age of 43 years.

A native of  the Philippines, Michelle – as fondly called by her friends and family - attended the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines, graduated with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. She attended the University of the Philippines and earned some units for her Masters in Educational Psychology. She then pursued her master's in education major in Experiential Learning and Development at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia and graduated in 2007.

Her professional career began when she started at Eduvision.  In 1996, she joined the Commission on Higher Education in the Philippines until 2010. Michelle spent two years in South Korea and served as private tutor in English language.  She also served as a professor at the National Teacher's College and Informatics Learning Center where she taught Technical Writing and college English courses. Michelle also worked at the Office of the Philippine President as a Technical Staff before she left for the US in 2008. Here in Florida she worked as Program Education Specialist at Missionary of Hope. Most recently, she is a para-professional at Deltona Lakes Elementary School.

Michelle was fond of music and she loved singing. She also loved food and was a very good cook.

Michelle is survived by her husband Ronald and her son Fian; her father Catalino and mother Maria Luisa; her brothers and sister Julyus and wife Lea; Vim and wife Chona, Ouim and Joy, Mae and husband Patrick; Catalino Jr and wife Ann Marie; her nephews and nieces Jeio, Kaece, Kriel, Cjan Mari, Vim Kiester II, Brean, Eurre, and Jouie.

The visitation and celebration of Michelle's life will be held at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church on Friday June 29, 2018 from 1PM -330PM 1310 Maximillian St Deltona, FL 32725.