Colleen Ganley Parro Baillargeon passed away on March 12, 2017. Colleen was born on January 3, 1940 in Evergreen Park, Illinois. In 1960, following graduation from Mundelein College with a BA in English Literature, she married Milton Charles “Chuck” Parro, Jr. She and Chuck raised their three children in Dallas, Texas, where they were members of St. Rita Parish from 1965 – 1981. Colleen was actively involved, serving on the Parish Council and as President of the St. Rita Women’s Club. Since 1981, Colleen has been a member of Christ the King Parish.
After moving to Dallas, Colleen began her career as an advocate for the pro-life cause. She worked tirelessly throughout her life to seek restoration of legal protection for the unborn. With this goal in mind, Colleen used her considerable energy and natural charisma to mobilize support and lobby both state and federal lawmakers to action. She was a delegate to every Texas Republican Party precinct, district and state convention between 1974 and 2008, serving on various resolutions committees and as State Convention Secretary. Colleen was an active member of Eagle Forum for forty years representing the organization as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill, and a founding member of Texans United for Life. From 1990 to 2010, she served as Executive Director of the Republican National Coalition for Life. Colleen was also a founding board member of the Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation of Texas.
Although she succeeded at many things, Colleen’s most cherished role was that of mother and grandmother. She felt that her greatest accomplishments were embodied in the lives of her children, and her greatest joy in life was the time God gave her to spend with her five grandchildren, whom she adored beyond description.
Preceded in death by her first husband of forty-two years, Chuck, and her mother Jessica Ganley, Colleen is survived by her beloved husband and longtime friend Bob Baillargeon, whom she married in 2010, her children Sheila Parro Patrick and husband Pat, Brian Charles Parro and wife Lisa, Moira Parro Schilke, grandchildren Charlie, Jessica and Kate Patrick and Colleen and Conor Parro, and sister Sheila Andretich of Palos Heights, Illinois.
A Vigil Service will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 West Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 17, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., at Christ the King Catholic Church, 8017 Preston Road, Dallas, Texas, with Reverend Monsignor Donald Zimmerman presiding. Internment at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations “In Memory of Colleen Parro Baillargeon" may be made to the Catholic Pro-Life Committee: P.O. Box 803541, Dallas, Texas 75380, or www.prolifedallas.org/donate or to the charity of your choice.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18