Barbara Colegate

Barbara Ann Colegate VIRGINIA BEACH - Barbara Ann (Nowak) Colegate, 56, died Friday, May 21, 2010, in Virginia Beach. She was born and raised in Bedford, Ohio. After graduating from Bedford High School in 1971, she attended the Ohio State University, where she met her husband Greg. Following college, she took on the role of a Navy wife, traveling to Asia, Europe, the Mediterranean, and all across the United States. She enjoyed the travel and lifestyle, and especially meeting new friends at new duty stations. One such duty station was Norfolk, where she gained employment with Delta Airlines as a customer service representative. She truly was proud of and loved this job and all the people she worked with. She had many stories to tell of the celebrities she met and the fun times she had with her co-workers. After retiring from Delta in 1995, she stayed in touch with her many special Delta and Navy friends. Next, she pursued her love of art, attending courses in painting, watercolor and pottery, and achieving a high level of technique. Her work was sold in several local galleries and at art shows. Following her diagnosis in 2005 of sarcoidosis her activities became increasingly limited. She bore her illness with great dignity and without complaint. She is survived by her loving husband, Greg; her sister, Loretta (Nowak) Marrelli; her dear cousin, Margaret Dziezic (Jim Marunowski); and her nieces, Andrea Marrelli and Danielle Marrelli. She was predeceased by her parents, Casey and Susan Nowak and her sister, Debbie Nowak. A visitation will be conducted Tuesday, May 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. (with a brief prayer service to follow) at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Bayside Chapel. A visitation will be conducted Thursday, May 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Johnson-Romito Funeral Home, Bedford, Ohio. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held Friday at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church. Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery. Barbara was a strong advocate for the protection of all God's creatures through her support of animal shelters and rescue services. Accordingly, it is suggested that in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to your local animal shelter. Condolences may be offered to the family at www. hollomon- brown.com.