Obituary of Colleen Stratton

STRATTON, Colleen - peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday August 27, 2010. Carol Joyce "Colleen" Stratton (nee Walden), beloved wife of Walter (deceased) and loving mother to George (Pam), Michael (deceased), Bill (Paul), and Kathy; grandmother of Ginny and Michael Stratton, Ben and Brian Bowen, great grandmother of Kailyn Bowen, beloved sister of Ted Walden and Frank Walden (deceased), and dear friend of 'Anna'. Carol Joyce Walden was born in Fort Erie in December 1925 and grew up there on Jarvis Street. Her parents called her their 'little Irish Colleen’, and the name stuck. Colleen worked at Fleet Aircraft during WWII and after the war met and married her great love, Walter Stratton. Colleen and Walt raised 4 children in Crescent Park and then Rochester, New York. Avid boaters on the Niagara River, the Great Lakes, Georgian Bay, and in the Thousand Islands, in 1978 Colleen and Walt retired on their trawler "TUG II” and spent 5 years boating between the Caribbean and Georgian Bay, after which they returned to their roots to live again on the Niagara River. Family meant everything to Colleen. She was happiest with family nearby, boating, skiing, cooking, entertaining, and just being together. She had a special flare for gardening and decorating and her lovely homes showed her creative side. Beautiful inside and out, Colleen was a special person, a "classy lady”, loved by all for her caring ways and outgoing friendly personality. She was also well known on the Niagara Parkway for riding her red bike - even at 84 years old! Colleen will be truly missed by all. Special thanks to "Dr. Sam” and the wonderful staff at Greater Niagara General Hospital. A celebration of Colleen’s life will be conducted at St Paul’s Anglican Church corner of Gilmore Rd and Niagara Blvd. in Fort Erie on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 11AM. Donations to the MS Society or Alzheimer’s Society would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to BENNER FUNERAL SERVICES, 1105 Benner Ave. Fort Erie, Ontario . www.bennerfuneralservices.com