I remember going to Grandma's every Sunday as a kid.  She always made the best food. I didn't realize it then but she always did so much for everyone. We had our moments and disagreements when I was younger and I think it's because  we were more alike than I knew.  Very strong willed but also caring. I'm thankful to have had such a strong independent woman as a role model.  I also remember her coming out with my Dad to come see my son Mason in the hospital. That meant a lot. She told me how she  was always praying for him, and would always ask about how he was doing. I'm thankful she got to meet all of my kids and loved how she would light up when she saw them. I love you so much Grandma! 

I was saddened this morning when I realized with Mom’s passing, there is one less person in the world that loves me. And not only that, but she loved me unconditionally, simply because I was her child. She saw me through the greatest tribulations and the greatest triumphs of my life. Always proud of me no matter what, and always willing to help. I took Mom’s patient love for granted, and now I know what I’ve lost and what I will never have again. There is no other love like that of a Mother. Undiminished by time or circumstance. Powerful, ancient and unending. I miss you so much Mommy. ❤️🙏😘

I remember taking Mom to the Thibodeau Family Reunion in Faribault, MN in the mid-90’s. She had talked about going for many years and always asked us kids to go with her. I’m so glad I did. We were able to find Mom’s childhood home, based on her memories from when she left MN at age 6. We asked the owner for permission to go down to the stream behind the home where she, Uncle Joe and others used to fish. There was a stand of bamboo just as she had described, that she had used for her fishing pole. We went to the reunion from there and enjoyed meeting our relatives who had come from all over the country and Canada. It was a magical time and I will always cherish it. I love you and I miss you so, so much my sweet Mommy. ❤️🙏😘

From my earliest memories, I remember going to see grandma as she hosted every Thanksgiving. Whenever we arrived at her house, the counters and both fridges were always filled with so many meals that she had spent days preparing for. I didn’t know how she could push herself to put in that effort into doing this every year; but to grandma, it was more than rewarding for her just to have all the family together.

Family was everything to grandma. She gladly told me the family history going back to the mid 1600’s a time I was doing an ancestry project. Other times she told me about the stories of how she was once called on the air by a local radio station and didn’t know what to say or the time she was yelling at her husband to grab the meat and not the bug spray in a freebie shopping spree. I never kept too much in touch with the rest of the family on my own, but grandma could always fill me in what everyone was going through.

Around November of last year was the last time I could with Grandma on the phone and still get a verbal response. She couldn’t understand most of what I was trying to ask her, but I heard Guy mention that she was smiling while we had our conversation; all that mattered to her at that moment was that she was happy to talk to one of her grandkids. Something else I won’t forget about that phone call was that she said something about wanting to get up and take care of a task that needed doing. Even despite her health fading away, the grandma I knew was still there and wanting to get things done no matter how tired she was.

I would say rest in peace but knowing grandma better than that, I picture she’s probably very much up and about taking care of things where she is. I imagine she’s with Johnny and some angels right now preparing a feast right for when the rest of the family shows up just like she always has… Also knowing grandma, she’s probably being very vocal to the angels that her cooking is better than theirs.

Thanks for everything Grandma!

I love you mom.  You have been a constant in my life and I feel so lost without you.  You were always there for me if I needed comforting,  you were there to feed me if I was hungry,  you were there if I needed a place to stay, and most importantly, you were there if I just needed a hug.

Thank you for your unconditional love. I truly look forward to getting a big hug from you in heaven. 

Momma loved receiving kisses so I gave her lots. She loved being around family.

Momma always wanted to die at home surrounded by family. I was holding her right-hand telling her that I loved her when she took her last breath. I am going to miss her greatly. She was the only person who has been constant in my life since day one and I feel so lost without her right now. I found an envelope for me from mom with an encouragement card telling me that she is now in a better place and to not be sad. This made me cry, but also made me feel a little better. Thank you, momma. Mom always prepared for everything. Even now, in death, she is still handling things. She could not have been a better mom.

It is heartbreaking having to witness your loved one's time nearing, but I am so glad that I was able to live with and care for my mom for four years of the last five years of her life. My mom came to visit me in Washington in January 2020 and then as fate would have it, the pandemic hit, so she stayed with me there until September 24, 2021 before returning to Sacramento. I relocated back to Sacramento the following month so that I could continue caring for her. Little did I know that she would only live another 2 1/2 months. My mom always wanted to die in her own home surrounded by family. God is good.

The house seems so empty without her now. She was a 4' 10" woman that was a force of nature. This makes me realize that the structure is not the home, but rather, the home, is the person or people who live there. This place can never be the same. Rest assured, momma, that I will take care of your home and make it a new home. RIP, momma, I will see you again. I LOVE YOU.

On January 11, 2022, at the age of 85, Colleen passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loved ones. Colleen was a devout catholic with a fiery personality and a passion for exploring her family history and genealogy. She was a resident of Sacramento County since 1947, born in Fairbault, MN on May 28, 1936. Attended Fair Oaks Elementary School, St. Joseph’s and San Juan High Schools, and American River College. She worked 16 years at McClellan AFB then took a promotion to go to Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas where she retired from Real Estate and Accounting for the Department of Defense. She moved back to the Sacramento area in 2001. Before her permanent residency in Sacramento, Colleen lived with her family in Texas, Africa, North Carolina, Philippines and New Mexico. She was the mother of 7 children - Richard Montes of Aurora CO, Joseph Montes of Spokane WA, Tony Montes of Meridian ID, Jim Fadollone of Roseville CA, John Fadollone of Alberta CA, Guy Fadollone of Los Angeles CA and Cindy Vine of Santa Rosa CA. She was also the Grandmother to 14 Grandchildren, 14 Great Grandchildren and 3 Great Great Grandchildren. She is pre-deceased by her husband Jaime Fadollone and son John Fadollone.

OBITUARY

Colleen Elizabeth Fadollone

28 May, 1936 – 11 January, 2022

Lombard Funeral Home

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