Michelle Eschrich, 48, of Lafayette Ave., Lewis Run, passed away Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Born March 3, 1978, in Bradford, she was the daughter of Debi (McGarry) Nichols and Charlie Sherrick, who survive.
Michelle was a 1996 graduate of Bradford High School and later attended Bloomsburg University before transferring to University of Pittsburgh in Bradford.
On April 22, 2017, she married James C. Eschrich, who survives. Their story began on December 16, 2011, when Michelle met Jim, bringing with her a son, Wyatt, who quickly became a central part of the life they were building together. In 2014, they welcomed their daughter, Madelyn, completing their family. Together, they created a life full of love sprinkled with lots of laughter.
She had previously been employed at East Resources in Olean, Dirt Excavating, Belser & Hale, and was currently the Human Resource Manager and Office Manager at PennHills Resources LLC.
Michelle was incredibly organized and took pride in keeping everything running smoothly, both at work and at home. She loved camping, traveling, puzzles, astronomy, cats, and cooking, but her greatest joy was spending time with her family. Whether she was dancing to music in her head or creating moments of laughter out of the everyday, she brought warmth wherever she went. She was her children’s biggest supporter, loving nothing more than watching them do the things they loved, learning, growing, and becoming who they were meant to be. She would always remind Jim, with a smile, capturing her playful spirit, that their intelligence came from her, after all, “it was science.”
Michelle was the keystone of her family, always dependable, always present, and always ready to take care of those she loved, prepared with snacks, drinks, Band-Aids, hugs, kisses, and words of wisdom and encouragement, providing comfort and strength in every moment.
Michelle and Jim were blessed with a beautiful life together, a relationship built on deep friendship, unwavering love and shared laughter, one that Jim will forever cherish.
Surviving in addition to her husband Jim, of eight years, is one daughter, Madelyn Eschrich, one son, Wyatt Burkett, both of Bradford, Michelle's grandfather, Edwin "Ted" (Kathy) Sherrick, her father Charlie (Lynn) Sherrick, of Bradford, her mother Debi (Grant) Nichols, of Bradford, five sisters, Toni (Joe Henton) Sherrick, Sarah Nichols, Pam (Mike) Eschrich, Jennifer (Matt) Calkins, and Rebecca (Genie) Koo, two brothers, Steve (Cherilynn) Nichols, and Adam (Jenna) Nichols, and several nieces and nephews.
She is also survived by her aunt and uncle’s, Daniel (Pat) McGarry, Laurie Sherrick, Lisa Sherrick-Pacifico, Heather Springsteen, Randy (Leslie) Sherrick, Leslie Sherrick, Kathy Kaess, Suzanne (Vern) Maine, Rosemary Siu, and David (Peggy) Nichols.
Preceded in death by her grandparents: Mary Lou Barrett, Merrilee Sherrick, Manly Copeland, Lillian Copeland, and Mary Gainey, and one uncle, John Sherrick.
Family will receive friends on Friday, March 27, 2026, from 4pm to 6 pm in the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc. 372 East Main Street, or 33 South Avenue.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to Core.
Online condolences may be expressed to family at www.hollenbeckcahill.com