Colleen Joan Collins-Chavez passed away in
the early hours of Wednesday, May 10, 2017
in Tampa, FL at the age of 57.


Colleen is survived by her loving husband of nearly 39 years,
Tony Chavez; daughters, Georgina Chavez and her partner, Leandrew Mills III;
Alexandria Chavez Bialik and her husband, Eric Bialik; sisters,
Kathleen Collins and estranged Bridget Collins; and
beloved niece and nephew, Katrina Madden and Michael Madden.

She will be welcomed in Heaven by their first daughter,
Enriqueta Frances Chavez, as well as parents,
Frances and Clarence Collins; Tony's parents, Eugenio
and Enriqueta Chavez; her older brother, George Meyers
and her niece, Margaret Meyers-Ryan.

Colleen was born on September 15, 1959 in Libertyville, IL,
weighing in at a whopping 13 pounds 13 ounces
(she would be disappointed if we left that part out.)
Although risk-averse, she led a life full of calculated adventures,
including cross-country hitchhiking, moving to sunny California
where she met the love of her life, and eventually relocating to
Virginia and Puerto Rico where Tony was stationed.

In 1988, they made a home for their family in Jacksonville, FL.
A source of great pride to their daughters,
Colleen graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors from
Edward Waters College with a degree in Business Management.

From her distinguished career in social work to her
uncanny ability to instantly adopt friends and family,
everything about Colleen was inspirational.
Although she endured tragic obstacles,
she conquered life with unwavering faith,
infectious optimism, and a sense of humor
that kept her surrounded by laughter.
She made it her life's mission to make the
world a better place; in typical Colleen
fashion, she over-achieved.

A funeral service has been
scheduled for Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 11AM
at the Ruskin Cemetery in Ruskin, FL.

We ask that our Jacksonville family and friends
join us as we celebrate Colleen's life with a
public memorial that will be held on
Saturday, May 20 at
the York Rite/Stafford Caldwell Lodge from 1-3PM.
(1237 McDuff Avenue S. Jacksonville, FL 32205)
RSVP for the memorial service:
https://goo.gl/forms/7PhFYvL5TrUj6BEl2


All are encouraged to share favorite memories,
visit with one another, and celebrate Colleen's legacy of life, laughter, and love.
Please come as you are and stay for as little or as long as you'd like.

In lieu of flowers,
your donation of time, awareness, or funds can
be made to the National Kidney Foundation,
in honor of Colleen. Your contributions would mean the
world to us and to families in need.
https://team.kidney.org/campaign/Colleen