Memories from Shauna LaBeau
When Colleen and Troy spoke in Sacrament when they first moved in, that was my first time seeing them. Colleen’s message was real and sincere and I respected that. You could tell she had a lifetime of experiences that shaped her. Although, her health was a challenge, she persisted.
The first time I spoke to Colleen she was walking around the back of the chapel greeting everyone and introducing her self to everyone. When she said Colleen, I commented that we had three Colleens and she replied, “Yea it was probably. The name of the year when we were all born and then we all moved in to the same neighborhood.”
When I was called to be in Activity Days she was serving in Young Women’s and Colleen proudly declared that Activity Days was the best calling and I would love it. I don’t suppose I loved it as much as Colleen but I did learn a lot from the girls and their families.
Colleen always intrigued me because she had a tattoo on her ankle and said that some people in her old ward were unkind because of that. She loved to play her puzzle games in Sunday School, yet some how always had an insightful comment to share. Her greatest thoughts and messages were shared in Relief Society and she could help others come out of their shell to share and participate in different ways.
Last fall when she started to experience symptoms of her unknown condition it was so sad to watch her lose her balance more. At some point, Colleen stopped being the personal welcome committee and so many members of the ward would go and visit her on the back bench. Despite the fear and concern she must have felt she was always kind and cheerful and her favorite question to me was, “How is your Mom?” Even when it seemed her mind was failing she still asked that question. Sometimes I would sit by her on the couch near the Bishop’s office while she was waiting for Troy to come out of his meetings and she always had goals and a plan to be able to regain her balance and strength. She was determined to walk with her cane and not use a walker forever.
The Saturday of April Conference, Nan and I took lunch over and she was watching When Calls the Heart I was so excited to see that on because I love the show- and I asked a question during a favorite scene and she said asked me to wait a moment. She then answered my question and jumped on her phone to send some texts. Troy was speaking to Nan and I about how much he loved Sister Camille Johnson’s message about being Whole Through Christ and how much comfort that was bringing while they knew Colleen’s body was failing her spirit and soul were still very strong.
The last time I saw Colleen was Easter Sunday. I was asked to speak but when I saw her come in with Troy I left the stand to go say hi and I told her that a mistake had been made and that I was asked to speak. She gave me a huge hug and assured me no mistakes were made and that I would do well.
No one will ever take her place, but she has motivated me to be more attentive and observant to see who may need a hello a hug. Colleen’s wit and Sass are second to none and she could say nearly any cheeky thing with love and get a smile out of the hardest and saddest of souls. While the progression of her cerebellar atrophy did rob her of independence her last few weeks on earth, I am certain she is running… or sprinting through Heaven visiting all those who have gone before. I suspect her beloved dogs are at her heels as they cheer up lonely sprits.
