Colleen had unconditional love for her entire family and inspired many. Colleen loved music, dancing, singing, and social gatherings. In health, Colleen’s radiant energy could make the sun shine on a rainy day. In sickness, Colleen’s steadiness and peacefulness could calm a stormy sea. We will never know the number of people she inspired or the number of people she will continue to inspire, undoubtedly, she was God’s perfect gift to those who allowed her in their lives. Colleen was a living Saint.
Colleen was the youngest of five children, the only girl among four boys. She was “special” by every sense of the word and spent the majority of her life with no diagnosis nor any major health issues. As a child, Colleen was slow to crawl and slower still to walk. What she lacked in motor skills, reading, writing, and arithmetic she made up for with unending determination and love. Colleen was active in gymnastics and horse riding, participated in PTOEC Special Olympics, and even carried the torch around the track at an opening ceremony. She attended Belleville East High School and loved her classmates, teachers and all things Lancer. After her high school years, Colleen enjoyed and thrived participating in the LINC Fun & Learning classes with her most special friends and wonderful teachers. When asked what she was most thankful for she would respond “work”. She was blessed to work at the Ellis Elementary School cafeteria and Smart Start Learning Center.
Colleen was a wonderful friend, cousin, niece, aunt, sister-in-law, sister, granddaughter, and daughter. Colleen developed epilepsy in her mid-twenties, which ultimately led her back to God.
The family would like to thank the incredible staff members who did all they could to help Colleen in countless ways at Missouri Baptist Hospital, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Select Specialty Hospital in St Charles, MO, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Helia Healthcare of Greenville, and Clinton Manor Living Center in New Baden, IL.
Colleen was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Calvin & Abigail, nee Fenoughty, Nesbit.
Surviving are her parents, Timothy C. and Catherine A., nee Tonies, Nesbit;
four brothers, Sean (Amy) Nesbit of Edwardsville, IL, Joseph (Crystal) Nesbit of Millstadt, IL, Casey (Rebecca) Nesbit of Columbia, IL, and Daniel (Angela) Nesbit of Shiloh, IL;
her maternal grandparents, Gerard and Maxine Tonies;
nine nieces and nephews, Grace, Violet, Eve, Chase, Brendan, Tanner, Noah, Leo, Colin, and baby boy Nesbit on the way.
Memorials may be made to a foundation that will be established in Colleen’s name, c/o Joseph Nesbit. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, August 26, 2018, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, August 27, 2018, at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, August 27, 2018, at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. William McGhee officiating. Please join the family in celebration of Colleen by wearing her favorite color orange.
Burial will be at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.