Patricia "Colleen" Stafford

Patricia "Colleen" Stafford left us to be with her Heavenly Father on Monday April 11th after a courageous 30 year battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Colleen was born in Bellingham WA on December 13, 1951 and graduated from Bellingham High School in the class of 1970. Colleen lived a passionate and artistic life. She seemed to always be singing, especially songs from her favorite band, The Beatles. She had memorized and enjoyed every song they had ever written. Colleen loved to do anything athletic; however, dancing was by far her favorite activity, which she continued to enjoy even while rehabilitating in her wheelchair. In her prime, Colleen was the high school drill team captain, an avid skier, ice skater, horseback rider and was up for any challenge, including racquetball. Colleen had a photographic memory and could recite the license plates of all the cars she ever owned. She had a great recall of childhood memories and good times with family. Colleen had a great lust for life and was easily thrilled by fast cars, her '59 Ford and cruisin' at Birch Bay. She could make friends with anyone from the door-to-door salesman, the various religious visitors and even her last best friend at The Grace Home, who is 102 years old, who she sat and held hands with. Colleen also loved and was well loved by animals. She had many pets throughout her life that became part of her family including the strays that would come to visit her, often times finding they had made a new permanent home. Colleen was a beautiful person whose spirit was as bright as the sun that she so loved. She had a wonderful and unique sense of humor and was constantly thinking of practical jokes and pranks for the unsuspecting. Colleen was loving and giving and always volunteered to help others within her abilities. She continually overcame and defied the odds that were commonly stacked against her and her strong will and independence continued to amaze all who knew her. She will be greatly missed. She is survived by her loving parents Patricia and Lawrence O'Grady; sisters Jennifer Barnhart and Jane O'Grady; brothers Howard O'Grady (wife Lori), Edward O'Grady, Tom O'Grady (wife Grace); daughters Heather Elgie (husband Phillip) and Holly Stafford; grandson Christian Elgie; granddaughter Gracie Elgie; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Many thanks go out to all the people who work at South Campus Rehab, especially Diana Caswell, Grace Home and the Catholic Community Service care givers who made her last days happy ones. A graveside service will be held at the Nooksack Cemetery on Sunday 4/17/2011 at 1:00 P.M, followed by an open celebration of life at 3:00 P.M. at the Cedar Grove club house located at 4915 Samish Way. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Moles Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, Bayview Chapel