COLLEEN THERESE ROACH NELSON

COLLEEN THERESE ROACH NELSON

Mar. 11, 1972 - Nov. 26, 2013

Colleen Therese Roach Nelson, 41, of Chico, CA, passed away on Tuesday, November 26, 2013, in Chico, CA.
Colleen Therese Roach Nelson was born March 11, 1972, to Dr. James M. and Cecelia A. Roach in Iowa City, Iowa, and was married to Carl Steffen Nelson on August 14, 2004, in Sacramento, CA. Colleen's family moved to California and she started school at Mrs. Gaede's Daycare Center. She then went to St. Mary's Catholic School and worked as a candy striper at El Centro Community Hospital where she developed a love for taking care of people and had over 1,000 hours of service. Colleen was awared the American Legion award because she was such a caring young person. Then she went to Central Union High School where she participated in the drama department, being in such plays as "Our Town," and the speech team where she competed in many tournaments. She was listed in "Who's Who in American Teenagers." Following graduation from high school Colleen went to Cal State Chico where she majored in Speech Pathology. She was very active in the Newman Center, which is a group for Catholic students. She was a day camp counselor for Camp Adventure Youth Services where she took care of the military children at the air base in England. After graduation, she lived one year with her Grandmother Gocke in Newport Beach and she received the "Employee of the Year" award while working as a checker at Long's drug store. She completed an internship at Bay View Hospital in Newport Beach. Then she returned to Chico when she earned her Master's degree in recreational therapy and speech rehabilitation. After completing her Master's degree she earned her Recreational Therapist license. In 2008 she worked as a Mental Health Professional in Chico. Chico was also where she met her future husband, Steffen Nelson. They had been married for nine years. Colleen worked in the work-training program as a Recreational Therapist at ARC of Butte County. She was a past Board member at Paradise STRIVE center. Her current position was the Mobile Activities Specialist for the social skills training program at the Work Training Center. She found working with the special needs community very fulfilling and she touched many lives. Colleen enjoyed knitting and making jewelry. She won an award for her handmade earrings at The Butte County Fair in 2012. She and Steffen really enjoyed doing outdoor activities, such as bike riding and 5K fun runs with their lovable black Labrador retriever "Maggie Dog." They also enjoyed cruising the Pacific Ocean to Mexico and Alaska with Colleen's parents.
Colleen was devoted to her participation in water aerobics at In Motion Fitness where she developed a network of close friends. Colleen participated in Weight Watchers where she was very successful and inspiring to others.
A memorial service will be held on Monday December 16th at 7 p.m. at St Mary's Catholic Church in El Centro.
Colleen was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Herbert and Miriam Gocke; paternal grandparents, William and Marcella Roach; and her aunt, Yvette Gocke.
She is survived by her husband, Carl Steffen Nelson, of Chico, CA.; mother and father, Dr. James and Cecelia Roach of El Centro, CA.; sister, Kathleen Roach of El Centro, CA.; aunts and uncles, Judith Roach, Dr. David and Carol Hammers; Greg Gocke; cousins, Carolyn Caster, Danielle Edell, Cris Caster, Anne Ricci, Susan Hohbein, David Hammers, Mary Beth Waggenseller, Julie Galivan, Steven Hammers, Tina Baker, Anne Marie Block, Dr. Stephen Gocke Obstetrician of El Centro, Denise Cossman and Stephanie Gocke.
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