Colette J. Stilson

Colette [Brasacchio] Stilson, 58, returned home on Sunday, January 5th, 2025. She passed away peacefully after a long and difficult battle with cancer that lasted over 20 years surrounded by family and friends.

Colette was born in Merrick, New York on January 12th, 1966. She attended Sacred Heart Academy, and attended college at Alfred State, where she met her husband, Joseph Stilson. After they graduated, they married and initially moved to Honeoye Falls, NY, but then moved to Rochester, NY. She worked for Jackson Hewitt, and then later moved over to Rochester Telephone and was laid off when Global Crossings was bought out. She then took up medical billing and started her own business “Brighton Medical Billing.” After closing down the business, she continued to do medical billing on a part time basis for her friend.

Colette loved traveling and taking cruises, by far, her favorite trip was also her last trip with her husband Joseph to Rome, and then taking a trans-Atlantic cruise back to New York, visiting Fatima in Portugal and the Azores. She also loved gambling and visiting family in Las Vegas.

Though she suffered from many medical conditions in her life, Including a broken metal rod in her back, she would amaze her doctors with her resilience. Some expected her to be with a walker or wheeled in on a chair, but instead they met a woman who walked in unaided. Doctors many years ago told her that she only had six months to live, she outlived their expectations and kept on fighting.

Colette is survived by her son William, daughter Hannah, brothers Thomas and Christopher, and nephew Timothy. She is predeceased by her sister Lee, her parents Loretta and Eugene, and husband Joseph.

Calling hours for Colette will be held Monday, January 13, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Alvah Halloran & Son Funeral Home, 2125 Chili Ave, Rochester, New York 14624. A funeral mass will occur Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St. Pius the Tenth, 3010 Chili Ave., Rochester, NY 14624.

Colette will be laid to rest with her husband in Bath National Cemetery, San Juan Ave., Bath, NY.