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BORN
1932
DIED
2025
ALICE COLACE Obituary
Sept. 7, 1932 – Aug. 16, 2025
Our courageous, loving, beautiful, and faith-filled "Nana" has peacefully gone to be with her Lord and Savior.
Alice Mary Colace, age 92, passed away the afternoon of August 16, 2025, at her residence in Boerne, Texas. She was born September 7, 1932, the cherished daughter of Raymond and Jenny Dessert.
Alice was born in Grand Junction, Colorado, and was one of six children: Ray, Ann, Frank, Archie, and Valmere. At the age of two, she moved with her family to Toronto, Canada, and later, at age ten, they settled in El Centro, California, where the family continued the Dessert Seed Company and pursued seed development.
Alice married her best friend and loving husband, Joseph Colace, and together they partnered with Tony and Francee Colace to establish Colace Brothers Produce Company.
Known to all as Alice or Nana, she was a shining light in the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know her. She gave her all always 110% and never stopped fighting for what was good, right, joyful, and beautiful. Her journey on this earth was marked by love, compassion, resilience, and an unwavering faith in God. Her passing leaves a tremendous void in the hearts of her family, friends, and countless others whose lives she touched deeply.
Alice was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joseph Colace. Together they built a legacy of love, and she is survived by their five children: Toni Anne Dashiell (Tom), Joseph Colace (Sally), Marla Todd (Mike), William Colace (Barbara), and Kathy Colace. She was a devoted grandmother to thirteen grandchildren: Joseph "Josh" Colace (Lili), Tyler Colace (Randi), Nicole Garcia Colace, Brianna Danielson (Bryan), Kristin Strickland (Kelly), William "Billy" Colace (Daniella), Andrew Colace (Shannon), Jonathan "JJ" Garcia, Michael William "Bill" Todd (Lynna), Danny Colace (Julianne), Zach Todd, Chelsea Mamer (Ryan), and Madison Colace. She was also blessed with nineteen great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews, all of whom felt her precious love and encouragement.
There are no words to express the gratitude and blessing it has been to receive Nana's love, wisdom, and constant encouragement. We will forever hold close her faithful prayers and the traditions she wove into our family especially her famous spaghetti and meatballs and our cherished Christmas "drummer boy" gatherings.
The family wants to express our gratitude for the faithful and loving care she received from oldest daughter, Toni Anne, and each and every one who so wonderfully visited and kept in touch with her.
A Rosary will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Brawley, California, on October 18, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., immediately followed by a Funeral Mass. A reception will follow at Stockmans Club in Brawley.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Peters Catholic School 202 W Kronkosky St Boerne, TX 78006 or New Creations 536 S. 6th Street El Centro, CA 92243 in Alice's honor.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for ALICE COLACE
Kimberly kosciusko
October 15, 2025
My condolences to the family sorry for your loss
Cincy Kosciusko and Kimberly Kosciusko
October 15, 2025
My condolences to the family you will be greatly missed
,Hector and Rosie Sosa
August 29, 2025
My Condolences for the LOSS of Nana! I will missed her,LOVE
Tara Adkins
August 27, 2025
I am so sorry for your loss. What a blessing to have her as the center of your family for so many years. Praying for you all.
Rick Johnson
August 27, 2025
Our sincerest condolences to the friends and family.
John and Nicki Curtis
August 23, 2025
An absolute beautiful person who lived a wonderful life.
Condolences to the Colace Family.
Davis Beauchamp
August 23, 2025
Andrew/Shannon and the entire Colace family - our sincere condolances
Michael Sullivan
August 21, 2025
I had the honor of serving Mass as an altar boy at your parents´ evening wedding. I must have been about ten years old, yet the memory still shimmers in my mind as if it were yesterday.
The church was filled with a soft golden glow. Tall candles lined the pews, their flames flickering like tiny stars, casting a spell of reverence and wonder over Old St. Mary´s at 5th & Orange in El Centro. The wedding party made its way slowly down the aisle, each step deepening the sense that something sacred was unfolding.
Then came the moment-the first notes of Wagner´s "Bridal Chorus" drifted through the air, and your mother began her walk. She was radiant, breathtaking, like a princess stepping out of a storybook. Her smile illuminated the church, and she seemed to shine brighter than even the candles.
As altar boy, I held the rings while the priest blessed them-my small hands trembling slightly, aware of the great mystery they carried. After the vows and the blessing, I returned to the sacristy to take off my cassock. It was there that your father came in, his face filled with gratitude. He pressed a $100 bill into my hand-a treasure beyond imagining for a boy my age-and thanked me warmly for serving. I had never even seen such a bill before, and I never forgot that gesture of kindness.
Your parents´ marriage became a guiding light for Jessica and me. Their love and faith stood as a shining example of what a Catholic marriage could be, and their memory has never left my heart.
Now, at 81 years old, after 56 years of my own marriage, I still carry that magical evening with me-an evening where faith, love, and beauty seemed to touch eternity.
Michael Sullivan
El Centro, CA
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