Running memories last forever
Libby

Colleen you are often in my thoughts.
Running memories last forever.

So lovely to hear from you Libby! Thanks for the great memories of running hills with you and Mum! You are both such an inspiration. 
Love Caroline

Often in my thoughts

The girls and I are enjoying memories and photos of our dear Mum and Umma today. So wish you could meet Colette Caia, but know you are watching over us. We love you, Caroline xo

I miss you Umma. I wish you could meet Caia and see us now. We love you forever. 

Love Olivia Welch (age 11)

running memories last forever. Today fills me with sadness the anniversary of the day I lost a wonderful friend

I found this beautiful letter written by Frankie, a few months ago, when she turned 7 and she wanted her Umma to know. A tribute from the heart by Francesca Welch, Colleen's granddaughter, aged 7.

Dear my beloved Umma,

I never wanted you to die. I wanted you to watch me grow up, learn to read and write, get older, turn 7 and be me.

Your were the kindest, most generous person I know,

Love from Frankie

"To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die."

Mum,
You live in our hearts every day, especially as we share our memories of you with Olivia and Frankie.  (I so wish you could see them now. They are truly awesome girls!) You are greatly missed in our lives. 

With love, Caroline, Seizo, Olivia (8) and Frankie (7)

Today Sam and I have been thinking about Colleen a lot, It just seens like yesterday when we were all together. Don, don;t forget that you have friends in Alamos, We would love to have you come visit again. Lots of love from us to you and your family.

So sorry to hear of Colleen's passing. Thoughts to Don and family x

Thinking of you today along with many others who miss you. I know Olivia and Frankie will be thinking about their Umma a lot today. I'm sure you're watching over them from up in the sky.

" Colleen, we didn't have the pleasure of knowing you a long time, but didn't we have fun traveling together! You, Don, and Sam and I saw some pretty amazing things in Turkey, and Peru. I remember that it was difficult for me to keep up with the three of you!! We sincerely missed you when Don came back to visit us in Alamos." Don, we hope to see you again soon.

Dear Olivia and Frankie's Umma - On your birthday I want you to know your beautiful daughter Caroline and your angel granddaughters, Olivia and Frankie, continue to share their love for you through vivid stories and tender thoughts. You will always be a blessed Mom and Grandmother and your spirit will forever shine brightly around them.

Dear Colleen...it's hard to believe that a year has passed since you
went to heaven.  You are truly misssed.  Everything about you was
so up.  I lost Alvin on June 12th ....so two very special people have
left us with a hole in our hearts. Love to you and Don.

Colleen, your spirit and joie de vivre lives on in Caroline, Olivia & Frankie... we miss you. Love, Lach, Nina, Aria & Lucius

'Colleen, we shared a special bond, ran our first marathon together.
those early morning runs will stay with me forever and the feeling of truimph when we crossed the finish line. - we made it!!. Unto the next marthon, we were addicted. Colleen, I do hope that St Peter can arrange a marathon for you in heaven.. Colleen I miss you"

We miss Mum even more on her birthday and upcoming one year anniversary of her passing. We wish she was here to celebrate her birthday and enjoy all the small everyday moments with us too. In the very wise words of her 6 year granddaughter Olivia "Don't be sad Mummy, Umma is with us all the time" and of her 5 year old granddaughter Frankie "Yeah, she is in my heart right now".  Caroline

We miss the visits by Colleen and Don, both to Seattle and to Palm Springs, and think of them often. We also remember the three couple invasion by six Seattleites to Gold Coast in March 2002, and the great hospitality. Have everlasting peace.

Wish you were here to celebrate your birthday Colleen. Missing the times we spent together. Always in our hearts.

Colleen, You fought so hard and wanted to live so badly! Such an example of strong woman! We are missing you, such a wonderful neighbor & friend always busy and occupied at the other side of our fence, walking by our homes every day and stopping to talk. We feel very blessed to have known you. Rest in paradise. Love.....Ur neighbors on Seaspray St P.Point QLD Australia.

thinking of you today on your birthday Col.. wishing you were still here and we were all going out to celebrate it together. Sending your family lots of love and thoughts today

It's with great fondness that I recall our trip to Alaska and the wonderful friendship that followed. Collen was warm,gracious,a good friend, devoted mother and wife. Not to mention carpenter ,plasterer, and painter. My love to all.
Marthava White

You were one of our favorite friends. In fact, you and Don were our  first house guests in our home in Alamos. We think of you every day and wish that we could have more visits and go on more trips with you. Don, please keep in touch. We love you.

Colleen, I will miss your enthusiasm and energy for life. I always appreciated your interest in our family and our plans. I salute you for your bravery in your fight against cancer. You never complained. We remember you with fondness.

You were an inspiration in my life. Always so full of energy and so fit. Will miss you but never forget you. What a lovely person and friend. Only fond memories in my heart.

You were such a joy to meet and have in my life for the few years
I knew you. I will miss your happiness, laughter, especially your
wonderful energy. I wish for your family all the strength they can
muster at this time....until we all meet again.  Leah

Thank you for the wonderful times you gave us while you were here with us. I wish you could be here to continue to share in our lives. Olivia and Frankie talk about their Umma often and they talk to the sky to tell her what is going on here. We all miss you so much."