M. Colette Meyer, 91

June 18, 2025

M. Colette Meyer, 91, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 18th, 2025, at Lancaster General Hospital. Born on June 9th, 1934, in Wyoming Illinois to Margaret and Robert Kinsella, she was the wife of Milton Wilbur Meyer for 50 years who preceded her in death on March 31, 2005.

Colette retired after 20 years as a successful realtor with Coldwell Banker where she was awarded “Realtor of the Year” several times. Before her real estate career, she enjoyed teaching at St. Anne’s Catholic School for many years and was dearly loved by her students. She was also a dance instructor for many years, beginning during the summers while she attended Western Illinois University.

In 1955 Colette purchased her own car and drove to California to attend a prestigious dance academy. Her goal was to return to Illinois and open an even larger dance studio than she had begun during the summers in college. Her plans changed when she met Milton, the love of her life. Within 3 months they married and moved to Albuquerque NM.

She was a member of Saint James Catholic Church where she taught CCD and enjoyed volunteering with the Christmas Bazaar and Bingo. Colette loved vacations at the beach with family, playing in a bridge club with husband Milt, and was an avid golfer, winning Women’s Club Champion at Conestoga CC. In 2002 she hit a hole in one at Highland Woods and then celebrated by doing a cartwheel on the green. She enjoyed playing tennis with Milt and their friends and founded their club “Tennis and Crumpets.” Colette loved playing Spades for hours on end with family, and games with her grandchildren.

Colette will be best remembered by the way she loved and poured her life into her family. She is survived by daughters Michelle (Thad) Joyce of Lancaster, Cathy (Larry) David of Pequea, Patricia (Bill) Crider of Lancaster, Molly (Guy) Fardone of Chester Springs, and sons Timothy (Sue) Meyer of Annapolis Md and Michael Meyer (Raleigh NC) . She is also survived by 14 grandchildren: Thad and Joel Joyce, Colette Smolinski, Carol Maras, John Lucca, Molly Callihan, Becky and Andrew Meyer, Kara Martin, Elizabeth Fox, Colleen Bantz, Nicolas, Luke and Natalie Fardone, and siblings Rosalie Blakey and Bobby Kinsella. She was preceded in death by granddaughter Denise Moffat- Pascale. “Nana” also leaves a legacy of 22 great grandchildren.

The family expresses special thanks to Hats Off Salon for keeping mom beautiful (shout out to Sapphire!), Mick for driving and keeping her safe over the past two years, Brethren Village for the love and care she has received from countless staff members, and Hospice for their visits and help in the hospital. Special appreciation goes to those who provided amazing care to mom (and our family) during her last days while at Lancaster General Hospital: Dr Amy, nurses Carly, Mariam, Alex and Victor. Dr John Gill-you became family to us and words cannot express our appreciation for the compassionate care you consistently provided. You are one of a kind.

Family will receive friends on Friday, June 27th, 2025 from 10:00AM -11:00 AM at St James Catholic Church, 505 Woodcrest Ave. Lititz, with a Mass of Christian Burial following at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Colette’s memory to Water Street Mission, https://wsm.org/make-an-impact/donate-goods/.