Colleen Olivia Jewett (Millard)

Colleen was born in Santa Clara, California in August of 1938 to her mother Lucille Mathilda Millard and her father Burton F. Millard. She grew up in the Santa Clara Valley and along the San Francisco Peninsula with her older brother Burton F. Millard Jr.
After graduating from San Jose State University, where she was an active member of the Phi Mu Sorority, Colleen began teaching 2nd grade. She was a natural born teacher and was known for having a knack for sensing trouble before it started. Soon after she began teaching, she married Paul Jewett. Colleen met Paul at the tender age of 15 at the "Wutzit Club", a 1950's sock hop dance hall filled with happy memories of dancing, music and friends. Her delight with dancing and music continued throughout her life as she enjoyed being a song girl for Santa Clara high school and later introduced her children to the joys of listening to records and dancing in the living room.
Colleen and Paul raised two daughters in Castro Valley, California and as they grew-up she spent countless hours volunteering at their schools, her church (First Baptist Church of Castro Valley) and with the San Leandro chapter of the Junior League. She was a room parent, a leader for Campfire Girls, Brownies and Girl Scout troops, raised funds for both the Oakland Museum and Zoo, sponsored a cheerleading squad, lead the church communion & decorating committees, taught Sunday school, and later served as a Deacon. When her grandchildren came along, she poured a seemingly limitless amount of nurturing time and love into them.
In her modest home in the suburbs, she allowed for an endless parade of animals. Along with the family dog she made room and cared for a collection of animals that included a duck, rabbits, chickens that unexpectedly turned into roosters, a stray cat, hamsters, a guinea pig, and a parakeet. None of these animals were her idea.
Colleen enjoyed following recent fashion trends, reading, board and card games, story-telling and letter writing. Her cursive handwriting was well-known within the family for its beauty and technical precision. A devoted tennis fan, she continued to keep up to date on the latest grand slams. Later in life she enjoyed being part of a group of friends who bowled weekly on a team named "The Bowlerinas" in a friendly competitive local league.
Unlike many in her generation, Colleen gracefully entered the digital age mastering her IPad and communicating easily by text message with the younger generations in her family. She also had a reputation for always being prepared and on time. You could count on her car having a full tank of gas and being up to date on the maintenance schedule and she always seemed to be one step ahead of everyone when it came to real time traffic conditions and current weather forecasts. If any member of her family was traveling Colleen was likely tracking their flights, the road conditions and the weather along their path. It was like having a private travel advisory service/guardian angel watching over you and she liked to jokingly refer to herself as the "Main Command Center".
Colleen often visited the beach in Santa Cruz, California for family vacations and later summered there with Paul after his retirement. During her golden years she thoroughly enjoyed sharing her favorite places in Santa Cruz with her grandchildren. The beach, boardwalk, shops, pier and lighthouse were always at the top of the list.
Colleen was preceded in death by her parents and dear brother. She is survived by husband Paul Jewett, daughters Sherrie Jewett and Stephanie Jewett (William Mitchell) and grandchildren Olivia Arrabit, Domenic Arrabit and Claire Mitchell.
She cherished her connections to her cousins (Rebecca Clarke, Carol Bruton, Judith McTigue, Kathleen McTigue) and all her nieces and nephews.
Colleen passed away in her apartment at The Parkview assisted living community in Pleasanton, California on September 7, 2024. There are no words that can express how grateful we are to Colleen's caregivers, Grace Taiwo Oluwabiyi, Kenneth Vaz, the Parkview staff and Hope Hospice. All of whom supported Colleen's family and cared for her so well during the last few years of her life.
Friends interested in honoring her memory through a donation might consider the American Heart Association or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.