Obituary of Champagne Joy

Joy, Champagne

October 4, 1967 – March 27, 2017

Champagne Joy of Yonkers, NY passed away suddenly on March 27, 2017 at the age of 49. She is survived by her loving husband Michael Hall, her mother Grace Speare Shapiro, her sister Luana Walther, her brother-in-law Edward Walther and her beloved nephews Blake and Julian. Champagne will be sorely missed by her family, numerous friends, the Metastatic Breast Cancer community and all that had the honor of knowing her.

Champagne was a blue-haired wonder / internet phenom with a heart of gold and the tagline “the least interesting thing about me is that I have cancer.” Champagne had the hubris to face her terminus with a bucket list of changing the world, redefining breast cancer and saving all the passengers on this Titanic, doing so openly and naked for the world to see. Former child actress, paralegal, bartender, filmmaker, and #Cancerland founder, this fearless leader used her matchmaker skills to bring diagnosed women together in love and support for one another right up until moments before her death. Champagne was a tireless advocate for Metastatic Breast Cancer research and legislative changes to the treatment of men and women living with metastatic disease. Champagne was heralded by Nerdist Chris Hardwick as a dragon-slayer and Modern Family’s Julie Bowen as a tough act to follow. Champagne’s organization, #Cancerland, is dedicated to helping other patients (and those who care for them) to navigate the difficult and often devastating cancer diagnosis and treatment processes. Started as a hashtag and online community for women with metastatic breast cancer to find each other, talk openly about their specific set of challenges and harness each of their own networks to support one another, #Cancerland now is a nationally known advocacy group and fundraising organization for people with advanced breast cancer. During this year’s New York Fashion Week, #Cancerland, together with lingerie company AnaOno Intimates, hosted an internationally acclaimed fashion show that, for the first time ever, featured designs created for and modeled by women with varying stages of breast cancer. Press coverage surrounding the event was widespread, international and viral.

Services for the indomitable Champagne Joy will be held at Weinstein Memorial Chapel, 1652 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers on Wednesday March 29 from 5 to 9 p.m. and Thursday March 30 from 3 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in honor of Champagne Joy/ # Cancerland to Metavivor.org,