Cheryl Tracy Collazo

Cheryl was born on March 26, 1971 in Queens, New York, to parents Natlie and Milton Gerstein. She was the first grandchild of both Milton and Natlie’s parents, as well as the first and only niece of Uncles Bobby and Bernie and Aunt Judy.

She went to Baund Agricultural High School because of her love of plants and animals and interned for a veterinarian during this time. She was an honor student. In 1993 she married the love of her life, Rafael Angel Collazo. They were living in an apartment in Queens and started their first adventure together in a business. Cheryl was the mastermind running the automotive shop and Rafael did all the hands-on work.

In 1994 she was blessed by the birth of her first daughter, Caitlin Natlie-Fay. Two years later they were blessed again with the birth of their second daughter, Marissa Tomasa Beth-Ellen. With no room in their tiny apartment in Queens, they decided to move west to Arizona in 1997 to be closer to their loving Aunt Judy. Always looking to achieve better for herself and her family, she was accepted to Arizona State University in 2000. As a full-time wife, mother and insurance adjuster, she completed her Associates degree in Business.

Cheryl was the quintessential “mother” – with all the love and responsibilities but deep down in her heart she kept her inner child alive. She loved cartoons and collected Smurfs and Garfields. Her girls labeled her “the dork” and she loved to fulfill that role for them. Her “dorkiness” brightened all the lives that she touched.

She leaves behind her loving husband, Rafael; her daughters, Caitlin and Marissa; her aunt, Judith Gerstein; her mother-in-law, Olga; and her brothers-in-law, Nelson, Eddie and Junior.

Cheryl’s footprint will never disappear from the sands of our lives.

Arrangements under the direction of Sunland Memorial Park, Mortuary & Cremation Center, Sun City, AZ. 623-933-0160