Colleen C. Paris

Colleen Claire (Ryan) Paris, 82, died on March 8th in Jacksonville, FL surrounded by her children. Colleen lived in Rockford most of her life. She was born in Alexandria, South Dakota on April 19, 1932 daughter of William and Mary Ryan. She was the ninth of ten children growing up on a farm in Mitchell, South Dakota. She attended St. Anthony School of Nursing and in 1953 attended a St. Joseph’s altar where she met a young Marine who had just served in Korea. Henry and Colleen were married on May 1, 1954 for 58 years until Hank died in October of 2012. Colleen worked as a nurse and in Central Scheduling for years at St. Anthony’s Hospital. Colleen and Hank had 6 sons before their only daughter was born. She is survived by her sons; Patrick (Heidi), granddaughter, Nicole Paris (Travis) George and great grandchildren Addelynn and Sadie and grandson, Ryan Paris; Joseph (Carol) and grandchildren Matthew Paris, Andrew Heckencamp and Katy (Don) Gray and great grandchildren Noah and Gianna; Steven (Maureen) and grandchildren Nicholas and Melissa; Daniel (Mary) and grandchildren Nathan and Michael and great grandchildren Gianluca and Giovanni; Thomas; William and grandchildren Natasha, Justin, Alexandra and Marissa; and daughter Colleen “Kelly” (Michael) Wielgus and grandchildren Christian and Sydney. She is also survived by 4 siblings; the Reverend Thomas Ryan, Mary (Ryan) Gleeson, Rita (Ryan) Gies, and James Ryan.
Visitation will be held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 1860 South Mulford Road, Rockford from 5-8PM Monday, March 16th and will continue at St Anthony of Padua Catholic church at 9AM Tuesday, St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th followed by funeral Mass at 10AM. Burial at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please donate to the National Pancreatic Foundation at www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/ColleenParis or send donations to National Pancreas Foundation, 3 Bathesda Metro Center, Suite 700, Bathesda, MD, 20814. To express condolences online, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com