Hortencia Michel was born on October 15, 1956 to the late Noellezena Toussaint and the late Rene Michel both of LaGonave, Haiti. She was the eldest of five children.

Hortencia Michel migrated to the United States with her uncle in 1980 to build a better life. Hortencia was a migrant worker for over 30 years before she retired in 2019. Her time spent after her retirement was spent taking care of her companion of over 40 years, Eloy Ilas, as well as spending time with her grandkids whom she spoiled every chance she got. She enjoyed thrift shopping, cooking, and traveling back to Haiti to visit her family.

Hortencia was a giver. She would give what she had without expecting anything in return but the same love she gave. She was small in stature but she was a no nonsense woman who was never afraid to tell you how she felt at the drop of a dime. She would speak her mind and at the same time give you the shirt off of her back.

She is survived by her daughters, Estancia Clersaint, Vilercia Clersaint, Elouma Michel, and Elena Michel; her sisters: Roseline Desir and Elourdes Louis; uncle: Omere Charles, and cousin: Peterson Charles;, nephew: Elmito Louis (Dayana Louis, wife); neices: Nadia Louis, Bertha Louis, and Monkonpere Fritzner Senecharles; she is also survived by her companion: Eloy Ilas; She is survived by her grandkids Alisha Michel, Charmayne Frazier, and a host of neices, nephews, and grandkids. Hortencia is preceeded in death by her brothers, Moliere Desir and Moise Desir.