Michelle Cortese

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Michelle Regina Cortese (Lanuk), a loving wife, sister, daughter, grandmother, aunt, and step-mother. Michelle passed on January 13, 2025, in Stamford Hospital following a long battle with cancer.

Born in Port Chester on March 10, 1952, Michelle was the daughter of Michael P. Lanuk, Sr. and Regina Lanuk, and a sister to Paul Lanuk, Renee Kopesky, Yvonne Howland, Michael Lanuk, Jr. She lived in Port Chester until 1974, when she moved to Stamford, Connecticut and pursued a career at The Fidelity Trust Company.

It was during her time working at Fidelity that she met Gary J. Cortese, Sr., the love of her life, at a company Christmas party in 1975. Gary describes their meeting as if a beam of light shone unto her, making her stand out amongst all the attendees. Two years later, they were married on October 23.

In their marriage, she became a step-mother to five children; a part of her life that she described to be challenging but very rewarding due to the love she had for them. Her step-children went on to make her not only a grandmother of thirteen, but also a great-grandmother of thirteen. Family was at the center of Michelle’s universe.

Michelle found great happiness in spending time with her husband, whether it was taking walks with him as they held hands or working out with him at the CT Fitness Lab with their dear friend Paul Landi. In addition, Michelle enjoyed their trips to Las Vegas where they stayed at the Palazzo and were VIP guests of Michael Bublé and Boyz II Men.

She also had a love for all things Chanel, as she was a fashionista in every sense. Whether she was buying top of the line perfumes or new satin robes from Vickies, Michelle had an eye for the finer things and loved her luxurious lifestyle. She loved feeding her deer apples in the back of her and Gary’s home in Weston, and she enjoyed her London Fog teas from Starbucks.

Her guilty pleasures included watching New Jersey Housewives and crossword puzzles. Packing her home with loved ones for holidays and preparing massive Italian feasts meant the world to her, as did running down who made the “Nice List” while giving everyone their gifts.

Michelle will be remembered for her unselfishness, the way she would “give the shirt off her back,” and her strength –literally and figuratively, since she was able to move a car on her own in a fitness challenge. She will be remembered as the life of the party and the way her bright eyes and perfect smile lit up any room she entered. Above all, she will be remembered for the unconditional love she touched the lives of so many with, most importantly her husband Gary.

She was strong, dedicated, and had a positive and uplifting attitude. She supported various organizations in her community, including Weston Volunteer EMS, the Weston Volunteer Fire Dept., Disabled Veterans, Wounded Warriors, Arthritis Foundation, Dana Farber Cancer Foundation, Shriners Children’s Hospital, and Samaritan’s Purse.

She is survived by her husband Gary, her mother Regina, her step-children Gary J. Cortese, Jr. and his wife Valarie, John Cortese and his wife Susan, Marianne Burriesci and her husband Joseph, Peter Cortese, Stephen Cortese and his wife Marie-Laure, and her many grand and great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Rose Marie DeVito (Cortese) and her husband Jack, her nephew John DeVito III and his wife Maria, niece Dayna Gartland, nephews Walter Kopesky, Robert Howland, Jr., Daniel Howland, Michael Lanuk III, her niece Alexis Johannessen, and her great nieces and nephews. Michelle is predeceased by her father, Michael P. Lanuk, Sr., who passed in 2000 and her niece Tiffany Kopesky who passed in 1993.
Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, and from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. on Friday, January 24, at Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home in Stamford at 104 Myrtle Avenue. A prayer service will be held at 12 p.m. following visitation on Friday, entombment will immediately follow at St. Peter Cemetery in Danbury, 71 Lake Avenue.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Weston Volunteer EMS in memory of Michelle Cortese for their compassionate care when their services were needed: https://www.westonems.com/donate.html