Barbara Ann Colello

Barbara Ann (Rokita) Colello passed away on Saturday, October 25, 2025, in Austin, Texas at the age of 80. Barbara was born in New River, North Carolina to parents Elmer and Anna (Stefko) Rokita. The family was stationed at Camp Lejeune at her birth as her father served in the United State Marine Corps during World War II. Barbara was educated in her faith and attended Notre Dame High School in Fairfield, Connecticut and graduated from Marywood College in Scranton, Pennsylvania where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.

Barbara worked briefly at Warners bra factory, where she met her future husband of 49 years, Albert Carmine Colello. She married Albert on October 29, 1966. As a young couple they created a home in Milford, Connecticut and welcomed five children. She continued her career working on computations for the design of helicopters at Sikorsky Helicopters. She left her job to raise her children, making much stuffed cabbage and banana bread. Eventually she continued her education and received a teaching certificate, which led her to teach middle and high school math. Barbara took great care of the family home and those in it, with special attention to caretaking when illness knocked on its door. She was very devoted and close with her parents. As the first in her family to graduate college, Barbara was a strong advocate in ensuring her children were well-educated, spiritually supported, and enriched. Barbara balanced the responsibilities of being a caring mother, devoted wife, and daughter with her pastimes of painting, singing in the choir, playing tennis, & leading her daughter's Girl Scout troop.

Barbara and Albert relocated to Texas with their youngest son in 1998. In her retirement, Barbara was an active member of St. William Catholic Church, was an avid reader, and enjoyed watercolor painting at the Round Rock Senior Center. She is well-remembered for her friendly spirit throughout her life, even into her later years. She was very proud of her children, eldest son David attended Caltech and is a Computer Engineer at Oracle; her son Robert attended Occidental College and Rice University and works as a Technical Consultant for Dell Technologies; her daughter Jennifer attended Clark University and Smith College, School for Social Work, and works as the Reflective Supervision Practice Specialist at the Children's Trust of the Massachusetts' Department of Early Education and Care; and her son Michael attended the University of San Francisco and works as a Systems Analyst at the New England Aquarium in Boston. Barbara loved being a grandmother and always enjoyed spending time with her grandkids, from playing card games and eating out to enjoying a good cup of coffee with a Round Rock donut. Beaming with pride, Barbara would enthusiastically introduce her grandchildren to anyone around her.

She is survived by her children David John and Nairy (Kabaklian) Colello of Seattle, Washington; Robert Scott and Tracy (Griffin) Colello of Round Rock, Texas; Jennifer Lynn (Colello) and David Reed of Sturbridge, Massachusetts; and Michael Ryan Colello of Melrose, Massachusetts; her grandchildren, Sophia Rose and Alex Levon Colello, Griffin Scott Colello, and Eilee Julianne and Leo Michael Reed; and her nieces Erin Rokita Senning and husband Eric and their children Amélie, Charles, and August, and Katharine Rokita; and cousins and in-laws. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents Elmer and Anna Rokita; her brother Eugene Joseph Rokita; her grandparents and many aunts and uncles in Pennsylvania; her husband Albert Carmine Colello and his family including brother-in-law Gordon Colello; and her infant daughter Maribeth Colello.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the loving care provided by her long-term nurses Deborah and Joey, with whom Barbara enjoyed many laughs and conversations.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 16th from 4pm to 6 pm at Ramsey Funeral Home, 5600 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas. A Catholic mass will be held on Monday, November 17th at 10am at St. William Catholic Church, followed by a Christian burial at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery in Georgetown, Texas. Pallbearers will be Alex Colello, David Colello, Griffin Colello, Michael Colello, Robert Colello, David Reed, and Leo Reed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Catholic Charities Central Texas. If you would like to share a message or memory in the online guest book, you may do so at RamseyFuneral.com.