Colleen Victoria Foster

Colleen Victoria Foster, born March 3, 1990 in Arlington, Virginia, passed into God’s arms there on December 31, 2019. She is survived and beloved by her parents, David and Martha Foster; her brother, Kenneth, and his fiancé, Michelle Wei; grandmothers Frances Tyahla and Hazel Foster; uncles and aunts Carolyn Foster Goolsby (Danny), Mary Foster Pennoyer (Ken), Mark Foster, Martha Foster, Tim Tyahla (Linda), and David Tyahla (Lizbet); and cousins Kathleen Goolsby, Andrew Tyahla, Megan Tyahla, and Ben Tyahla. Family and friends will celebrate Colleen’s life on February 29, 2020 at 2 p.m. at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church. “How do you measure a life,” asks one of Colleen’s favorite songs from the musical “Rent.” To borrow the answer from the song’s title, by “Seasons of Love.” Colleen loved so many things and so many people. Colleen loved the theater, from musicals to drama. Blessed with stage presence and a beautiful singing voice, she studied theater and the other arts at Shenandoah University, where she later earned degrees magna cum laude in English and Spanish. From church plays and community theater to high school and University productions, Colleen’s performances not only touched all who saw her, but presaged a lifelong passion for connecting with people. Colleen loved communicating directly with people and understood the limitations of social media. Early in her life, she acquired a command of the English language that she constantly enhanced. While still a toddler she would “write” books (sometimes written on paper by mom or dad while Colleen dictated). Her illustrations were rich beyond her years. As she grew older, she would write notes and letters to friends and family with collages and mosaics that made each a work of art. Her pen pals reported waiting at the mailbox to see what the post office would deliver from Colleen. Colleen loved using her command of language to create and tell stories. In second grade, she submitted one of her books to WETA public television as part of its competition for young writers. Koshka and Me, Colleen’s story of her life with her first cat, won the championship for the region. In addition to showcasing her literary and artistic talents, the book reflected another gift. Throughout, Colleen’s illustrations showed very day-to-day experiences enhanced through her love and creativity. One of the pictures showed Koshka and Colleen watching her mom make a phone call in the kitchen while in a strapless ball gown. Throughout her life, Colleen took the mundane and recreated it as magical. Colleen loved adventure and travel, both with family and on her own. Before she graduated from high school, she had enjoyed a safari in Africa with her dad, climbed over cooled lava with her mom to see Kilauea provide real fireworks in Hawaii on July 4th, and traveled throughout Europe with brother Ken and other friends. Colleen also spent time in the royal game preserve in Thailand and became a certified elephant handler, having spent a couple of weeks assigned to one of the herd and caring for it daily. While at Shenandoah University, she went on academic trips to Argentina and Cuba with fellow students and faculty. Colleen loved helping others. Through Girl Scouts and church, she participated in many service projects and mission trips, both in Northern Virginia and in other parts of the world. She would often use her command of the Spanish language to engage those she was serving. In other parts of the world such as the Czech Republic and Belize, Colleen’s singing voice and love of music would be the common language. Colleen loved animals as well. In addition to cherishing various hermit crabs, fish, turtles, and birds, she adopted cats from animal shelters and barns. As a child, she asked friends to bring gifts for pets to one of her birthday parties. She donated them to a local animal shelter. Her spirit was surely warmed by being reunited with her dearly loved Koshka, Georgia, and Fuzz. Highly intelligent, Colleen loved both the rigor and the creativity of an academic setting. At Shenandoah, her English credentials earned her a personal visit with the commencement speaker, Nikki Giovanni, on the day of her graduation. Shortly thereafter, Colleen’s command of Spanish earned her a spot as a presenter at a nationwide literary conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where most presenters were doctoral candidates or professors. Totally in Spanish, Colleen explained how white women were portrayed in several Hispanic works of literature. Colleen loved, in fact, all forms of teaching. She taught Spanish to preschoolers and seniors alike, her command of the language, her thorough preparation, and her ability to connect on a personal level making her uniquely effective. Colleen also researched and wrote study aids for a nationwide educational firm, displaying a rare ability to communicate a wide variety of rich subject matter to students at all levels of reading comprehension. Possibly more than anything, Colleen loved her family and friends. She was thoughtful, compassionate, caring, and loyal. Deeply and universally, her family and friends returned her love. Many have reported that she taught them how to love and to live. In short, Colleen loved life itself. Even though she bravely fought a vicious eating disorder for many years, she never lost her passion for the many people and things that she loved. The disease ultimately overcame the body, but it could not conquer her capacity to love. She lives on as a part of all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, 2650 South Arlington Mill Drive, Arlington, VA 22206, or to Shenandoah University, 1460 University Drive, Winchester, VA 22601, where an endowment will be established in Colleen's honor.