Michelle Marie "Queenie" Temple-Frizzell

Michelle Marie “Queenie” Temple-Frizzell, 58, of Leominster, MA passed away on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at UMass Memorial Hospital in Leominster after fighting COVID-19. Michelle was born on September 13, 1962 and grew up in Athol, MA attending Athol Schools and graduating from Athol High School in 1980. She worked at Mars Bargain Land in high school and then moved on to banking starting as a teller, working her way up to the loan department and eventually working as the Manager of Commercial Loans for Fitchburg Savings Bank for many years. Her banking career spanned about 30 years and most recently, she was working from home for a banking company. She loved being a career woman—especially shopping for fashionable business wear—but she always longed to start a family. I can still remember her singing Barbara Streisand’s “I finally found someone” when she met her husband Jeff and they completed their family when they adopted Joan, Michelle’s mini-me and dream come true. We all joke how much Joan is like Michelle and that it was truly meant to be for Joan to be with Michelle and Jeff. Michelle also loved being an aunt to all her nieces and nephews. She used to take them for overnights and birthday outings that included shopping, dinner and spoiling them. When the kids opened gifts from her, she was always just as excited to watch them as they were to be getting a present—she loved giving someone a gift that she just knew they would love. She would sometimes buy things for her loved ones, just because she saw it and thought of them. Those gifts often came in wonderfully cute or intricate wrapping. Michelle was an artist and a maker. She operated a small home business selling crafts, she enjoyed painting and decorating and she made delicious pastries, beautiful cakes and the best cookies. Giving and making others happy made Michelle happy as well, so she loved to work on anything pretty or tasty that others could enjoy. Michelle was her mother’s best friend. They enjoyed daily calls, frequent visits to each other’s homes and relaxing together at camp in Old Orchard Beach, ME. She was the true “big sister” who always knew what to do and wasn’t afraid to be a little bit bossy about it. She was the glue that held our family together, usually the one to organize family birthdays or holiday gatherings. I was recently reminded how she once welcomed one of her niece’s college friends to our family Thanksgiving when he was far from home for the holiday—in his words, “she was lovely to me,” which is how we hope she is remembered by all. Michelle leaves behind many loved ones. Her beloved husband Jeff Frizzell and her absolute pride and joy, her daughter Joan Frizzell both of Leominster. She leaves her mother and best friend, Julia (LaMarche) Temple of Athol; her sister, Holly (Temple) Young and her husband Craig of Athol; her brother Darrell Temple and his partner Evelyn O’Donnell of Tewksbury. Nieces and nephews: Larissa Young and her partner Matthew Belliveau of Lewiston, ME, Colleen Young and her fiancé Shane Cullins of Waterboro, ME, Kristin Young and her partner Chris Barnes of Manchester, NH, Julianna and Luke Temple of Andover, Haylee, Samantha, and Domenic Alphen of Maynard; Mother-in-law and father-in-law Rosina and Roy Frizzell of Littleton; Sister-in-law Lisa Alphen and her husband Chris of Maynard; Brother-in-law Sean Frizzell of Littleton; Michelle was predeceased by her beloved father, Donald Henry Temple. For those that knew her, she truly was a Queenie. She got the nickname from a friend, and it stuck because that is who she was to her core, a strong, independent woman who loved her family and friends fiercely. In the true Queen way, she was particular and had to have things just so. She loved to shop, dress up and have parties, even having a medieval themed wedding (complete with a jester and a knife thrower!) to celebrate the beginning of the life she always wanted. Don’t worry Michelle, I’ll do my best to hold up your crown and take care of the family like you always did. You will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved you and you will be remembered as the beautiful queen you are. The family will hold a private memorial service and celebration of her life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions for her daughter, Joan, to the Joan Frizzell Fund C/O Berkshire Bank, 565 Main Street, Leominster, MA 01453 To leave an online condolence please go to www.mackfamilyfh.com The Fiske-Murphy-Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Road, Orange, MA 01368, has been entrusted with Michelle’s funeral arrangements.