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FUNERAL HOME
Multiple locations, Wisconsin
Coleen Zarda Obituary
Visitation Friday, after 9AM at St. Vincent Pallotti, N76 & W. Bluemound Rd. Funeral Mass 11AM. Burial to follow, Holy Cross.
Coleen was loved by all. We comend her into the arms of Jesus, Mary and Joseph after her long and courageous battle.
CHURCH AND CHAPEL
Skubal, Koelsch, Larsen
S76 and Greenfield 414-476-0052
www.churchandchapel.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Coleen Zarda
Dawn Prah
January 19, 2006
I didn't know Coleen well but what I knew of her in High School she was a fun and smart girl. She did very well in life and with her passing she will still be well remembered by all.
MOM
January 18, 2006
COLEEN, KNOW THAT YOU ARE TRULY MISSED DAD AND I ARE SO SAD. YOU WILL REMAIN THE JEWEL IN MY CROWN I ONLY WISH I HAD YOUR STRENGHT TO GO ON IN LIFE WE WILL GO THROUGH IN LIFE,BUT NOT WITH TRUE ENJOYMENT,HAPPINESS,OR A REAL FULFILLMENT OF CARING ABOUT THINGS WE HAVE LOST ONE OF OUR MOST TREASURED GIFTS IN LIFE A CHILD KNOW WE WILL BE TOGETHER AGAIN SOMEDAY, BUT UNTIL THEN YOU MUST KNOW HOW MUCH WE LOVE YOU AND WILL MISS YOU EVERYDAY OF OUR LIFE .
Bridget Rose
January 12, 2006
How do you capture Coleen Elizabeth Creighton Zarda in a few words?
You don’t, and I can’t. It’s a bit like trying to capture a moonbeam in a jar. She cast so much light in so many ways, in so many lives.
Her life-light finally went out, but she has left sparks of light in all of us: her love of mankind in general, her family and friends in particular. She was, in her belief and work, a champion of those who suffer. She appreciated beauty: a flower, a play, a piece of music, a good meal, a good wine.
It was how Coleen expressed her appreciation that I really loved. I’ll give you my best Coleen impression: “Oh, isn’t that be-e-e-e-you-u-u-u-u-ti-ful!”
I have the privilege, pride, joy - and some frustration - of being one of Coleen's older sister by birth and best friend by her choice. The bond between us is - I just can’t use the past tense here - extraordinary.
So please indulge this sister as I talk about my sister and her life. We did so much together.
As little girls my mother dressed us alike. People would say “Are you twins?”
We’d respond in unison, “No, we’re 17 months apart apart.”
After I turned 30, I’d say “No, she’s 2 years older!”
We always shared a bedroom. On Oak Park Ct when our older sister Mary Lu moved out, our mother and daddy offered us separate bedrooms. We wouldn’t hear of it. We loved being together. We’d talk forever after lights out and watch the Late Show. I remember one night Michael J. Fox was on and Coleen let out a scream.
Our cover was blown. Our daddy rushed into the room and did she get in trouble! While Dad was angry, we both knew he was delighted, so much so that the next day Coleen got to stay home from school to see him on the Donahue show. I had to go school.
We went to Holy Cross Grammar School, St Joan Antida High School.. We did not go to Collage together but mom and Daddy made us eat dinner every night together.
We shopped until we dropped at many a mall. For the last several Christmases we’d find ourselves at Mayfair Mall. Coleen and mother would go to the shopping center at the Cancer center, always looking never buying. Then she would call and tell me about the things she saw and we cracked up laughing about our capacity to find unusual, unique shopping opportunities.
Recently I met someone who graduated with Coleen from St. Joan Antida High. I said “You must know my sister, Coleen Creighton.” She said “When I hear that name I think smart - she was the smartest girl in our class. You never had to worry about that silence when no one knows the answer. Coleen always did.”
When she graduated SJA she was in the top 2% in the class .
Coleen was not only smart, but deeply committed to her work. Her coworkers admired her not only for her sense of humor but also for the gently caring way she went about getting the right results. We are so deeply touched by the all of you who came to honor Coleen Today. She made a difference in so many lives.
We grew up in a wonderful neighborhood on Oak Park Ct She called it Club 673 lots of kids, lots of fun, lots of bike-riding, lots of ball and lot and lots of swimming. The boys used to call her the athletic one Of course they all wanted her on their team. I on the other hand had bruises and cuts at the age of a three -. Rather than catch a ball I’d put my hands over my face. So you can imagine I was not a first round draft choice. Coleen would say, “Take me, take my sister.” She didn’t want me to feel left out.
On Christmas Eve I’d be afraid Santa had not yet left and Coleen would always go inside first.
For years we would but on my mother's hat on our feet so they couldn't hear the pitter patter of our feet on the floor or wake up our older sister Mary lu-.
Coleen would always take my hand and say, “Bridgey , I’ll go first.”
When we had head lice, the plan was, Bridget first, to brave up the fears of the little sister, but I had other plans I was going to scream and scare her. . Coleen volunteered to go first.
She wanted to show me it would be okay. When she was slipping away from me a few days ago, I couldn’t help but think she wanted me to know that it would be okay. Once again, she went first.
Coleen decided attend U WMilwaukee for her fist two years of college with me at WCTC . I remember her asking me if I minded if she went to a different college then the one I had chosen. Once again off we went together on a new adventure just on our own .
The night before I got married Coleen and I were in our bedroom talking. She, in her most comforting little sister voice, said, “Bridgey, you have nothing to worry about. After all, you are marrying a man we hardly know!”
In the early years she was my protector. Sometime in high school I became hers. Little did I know then that I was a therapist-in-training for her later in life.
At night I would fall asleep first. Coleen would be up reading. I was always a light sleeper. I’d hear her say, “Bridget, are you awake?” And I’d say, “Coleen I am now.”
She’d tell me about whatever was upsetting her. I’d get into the problem and before I knew it she’d be asleep and I’d be awake problem-solving. This continued until the end of her life. When she realized what happened she said, “Bridget I did it to you again.” She’d sleep and leave the worry to me. And I did it well.
On Christmas Eve at my parents’ home Coleen would always want us to start early. We’d all be there, except for her. Then Coleen and Matt would festively arrive, Christmas pins on, shopping bags in hand, and say, “Mom, where is your scotch tape and scissors and do you have any wrapping paper?” Oh and by the way the house looks and smells like Christmas.
In 2002 the jolt came. Coleen was diagnosed with advanced Breast cancer.
I kept saying over and over, “She just can’t die early; she’s never been early in her life! She just can’t!”
Then I found the stats on her type of disease. She had a ten percent chance of surviving 1 year. I never told my parents that. That was 3 years ago!! She did what she always did. Her death just had to wait.
Coleen was gentle but also stubborn and strong. She was so extraordinarily vibrant . She made it so easy for us to forget that she was ill. Like the energized bunny, she kept going and going.
As always, she continued to live in the moment. She squeezed so much in; she had so much to do.
She had to see her friends and family get married buy a house and have there own children. The children she loved like her own. .
She stayed long enough to help us say goodbye to our loved ones . She knew we couldn’t do it without her.
She had races to run, Walks to walk with so many of you.
She needed more time with Matthew who she would tell me was her greatest love. Matt you have been a wonderful husband. I will admire you for how much you truly loved and love Coleen.
She needed more time with you, more time to enjoy your wonderful meals, trips to Barnes and Noble and going out to dinner with friends.
With even greater effort she stayed to see our mother celebrate her 59th and my father's 69th birthday. She was so worried about leaving them.
She would have squeezed in more if she could.
Coleen was late, but she always showed up, and so she did for her death.
My gentle, stubborn, independent, private, loving, caring, giving, sister’s light went out on December 24 th. She left us with so many wonderful memories, so many special gifts.
In the last months of her fight with cancer , before she went in to remission and I thought the end was near, I’d be down by the shore with Alexander and Brittney and see a magnificent sunlight reflecting on the ocean and I’d think she would soon be a part of this.
Since Coleen appreciated beauty so much, I’d like you to see Coleen's beautiful spirit in whatever you enjoy and Matt, who was Coleen's shining star.
I want you to know Lord, Coleen is now yours.
I can imagine hearing Coleen's giggle now, saying, “Bridget, I did it to you again.”
So I’ll say, “Coleen I’m awake now. I’ll worry and do the best I can. Rest, my dear Sister, in peace you so deserve.”
God Bless You.
Marsha King
January 12, 2006
Colleen and I worked at Time Warner together for 3 years, I am at a loss for words. This deeply sadens my heart and soul. She was an amazing friend, coworker, woman (her and all of her frogs). My heart goes out to her husband and family.
Loves Always - - Marsha.
LaShawn Barnes
January 11, 2006
Matt, Mr. & Mrs. Creighton,
My prayers are with you. I was graced by the presence of Coleen at Time Warner Cable. I would just like to share some of the wonderul moments I shared with her. Coleen and I had become such good friends while we worked together and outside of work. I remember when we were desk partners, we were suppose to be working and taking calls, but we had downtime. Instead of us finding something to do (work wise) Coleen would say, "let's play Uno". We would play and play till we got caught, and when the supervisor was away she would start dealing the cards again. Coleen loved make-up and one day she suprised me, she brought in 2 cosmetic bags of make-up for me and showed me how to apply it. There were times at work that we were so bored that she would get a balloon and suck out the helium and start singing oompa loompa. Everyone in the room would be laughing. Her and I would laugh so much till we were crying. Coleen was a great friend to have. No matter what was going on she was always full of energy and laughs. She was probably one of the happiest people I knew. Matt, Coleen loved you so much, she use to talk about you all the time, and how much she was happy to have married you. I will always remember her and the joy she brought to me.
Kathy Murray
December 29, 2005
Matt, and Mr. and Mrs. Creighton,
You are in my prayers. I am feeling so sad when I think about how empty life is without Coleen. She was so full of life until cancer struck. We shared so many laughs during the time I knew her. She loved her family and always was proud of all of you. I am confident that she is with our Lord. I know she was mad at God for a while, but she understood that pain and suffering are not from God. They are a result of man's sin. God loves us all and He wants each of us to be with Him in paradise for eternity. Think of what the bible says, Heaven is better than anything we could ever possibly imagine. The streets are brighter than gold, and our happiest time here on earth can't begin to compare to a moment in paradise. We will see her when we get there. She will be whole and perfect as on the day she was born.
She suffers no longer. Her sick body is no longer her prison. She is now a heavenly spirit. Take comfort in knowing that God loves Coleen and He loves each of us. We will all miss Coleen, and the next few months will be times when a song will bring us to tears or the memory of a place we had a good time with her will make us feel so sad. Try to remember when she was laughing and how much fun she was to be with before she got sick. Think of her beautiful smile and what wonderful warm hugs she gave. We always want more time before we let go of someone we love, but God's timing is always right.
Matt, you are so young to have gone through this. You were a perfect husband to Coleen and she cherished you. You can take comfort in knowing that you were everything she needed in a husband. Thank you for calling and letting us know about the funeral. Kathy and Tina, the Murray girls.
Tom Piaskoski
December 29, 2005
With deepest sympathy, Coleen will always remain in my heart and prayers. May she give us strength and comfort through our loving memories of her.
Uncle Alf, Aunt Dorie & Ken Vretfors
December 29, 2005
Dear Matt, Dean, Bonnie, Mary Lu, Bridget and families. We share your grief. She will be missed by many. May you have comfort in knowing that she is in the arms of our Lord. May God give you strength in the days to come.
Lynn Zimmer
December 29, 2005
The Zarda and Creighton Family....Your in my thoughts and prayers.
Georgia Dollhopf
December 29, 2005
To Coleen's Family - We were shocked to hear the news. We are praying that God gives you strength to help you through this time. Coleen always had a infectious smile and positive things to say every time we spoke. God be with you.
Thomas, Georgia and Lexi Dollhopf
Stacy Neitzel
December 29, 2005
Matt and Family:
I am so sorry to hear about Coleen. I couldn't believe it, it couldn't have been true. She was a wonderful person and I feel blessed that I had met her. She will suffer no more. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Stacy (from Dr. Aldred's office)
Melanie Matter
December 28, 2005
Matt, Im soo sorry!! She's in a better place though, right? Happy, smiling at you. :-) If you ever need anyone to talk to, Im always here for you. You know where I work...just stop on in! Im sorry that I wont be able to go to the funeral, cuz I have to work...maybe I can get someone to take my shift so I can be there for you. Seriously, if you ever need anyone to talk to, Im here!! Let God be your strength through this one Matt. :-) He's always there for you. He carries you when you arent strong enough to walk on your own, and walks next to you every step of the way when you are strong enough. Let Him be your strength. :) I love ya matt!!
Christine Schuenemann
December 28, 2005
She always had a smile no matter what she was going through. She will be missed in many ways.
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