It is with extremely broken hearts that our family announces the passing of our dear beloved wife, mother and grandmother Colleen Smith, age 73 years, a resident of Fireweed Court and formerly of Dublin Avenue, due to complications after a brief but extremely difficult battle with the rare disease Vasculitis on Tuesday, February 28th, 2017 with her family closely by her side.
Colleen was born in Fort William, Ontario in 1944. She married her lifelong partner and love of her life Frederick Smith in 1969. Colleen worked for several years at CIBC until starting her family. She returned to work for the next 15 years around 1980 to McDonald's Restaurant where she made many lifelong friendships. She retired from McDonald's and continued to dedicate herself to caring for her entire family.
Colleen and her husband Frederick spent many enjoyable years travelling to Grand Portage for nights of Bingo and Keno together, once again creating many lifelong friendships. Many summer evenings were also spent helping her son Derek tend to their ever expanding garden. Colleen also enjoyed many small vacations to visit her daughter Ashlee in Newmarket whenever possible. Many fun filled vacations were had in the summer with her children and grandchildren in the Toronto area. Colleen had a passion for spending time and following her son James and daughter-in-law Cynthia to her grandchildren's hockey games and practices. The love she had for Jordan and Travis was unending. She was and will continue to be their number one fan. Colleen had a very sharp, witty sense of humour that she showed to many, right to the end. She had a heart of gold and put everyone else ahead of herself. That is the only way she would have it. Colleen could create a friendship under any circumstance.
Colleen will be painfully missed and lovingly remembered by her husband Frederick Smith, her children Derek Smith, Ashlee Smith, James Smith (Cynthia) and grandchildren Jordan and Travis Smith, as well as her sister Arleen Kolodij (Roman). Numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives also survive.
Colleen was predeceased by her mother Kathleen, father Elmer, brother Patrick, and several other aunts, uncles and cousins.
Colleen and her family would like to thank the doctors and nurses in the ICU ward, the renal department as well as the doctors, nurses and staff of 2A with thanks to Dr. Patel, nurse Paula, Lisa and a special thank you to Mary.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 4th, 2017 leaving the Harbourview Funeral Centre at 1:00 p.m. to Corpus Christi Church, 664 Red River Road, for the Funeral Mass to be celebrated by Rev. Victor DeGagne beginning at 1:30 p.m. Cremation will follow with a public interment in Sunset Memorial Gardens on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will be held on Friday evening from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Harbourview Funeral Centre, 499 North Cumberland Street, where the Prayer Service will begin at 7:30 p.m. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation - Renal Unit would be appreciated.
