Wilczek, Colleen Anne

Colleen Anne Mathews was born in the tiny upstate village of Ilion, New York to Robert (Bob) and Lucille (Sweeney) Mathews on July 9, 1946. Bob served in WWII and had been shot by the Germans in North Africa. His service and courage earned him a purple heart, a fact Colleen had been so proud of throughout her life.

The family grew as Colleen became a big sister to four brothers – Robert (Bob), William (Bill), Brian, and Kevin. The growing family moved into a modest new three-bedroom house in New Hartford in 1953. Throughout her adult life Colleen recalled growing up in simpler times. She was grateful to grow up in a classic post-war American suburban environment – one car to a house (in their case a Chevy), one dog to a family (in their case a beagle), and home-cooked meals even on weekends! She recalled when the neighborhood’s first television set arrived and was invited to come watch it.

Colleen loved growing up with her extended family nearby and ever-present in her daily life, and she especially cherished her grandparents. She had a special bond with her loving and attentive grandmother Iva Boudry, her ‘go-to’ person whenever she needed anything. 

Colleen often recalled one story that summed up her childhood environment. When the young girl suddenly found herself alone during a shopping outing in Herkimer, a policeman put her on his shoulders, bought her an ice cream cone, and helped her find her parents. 

A friend in high school set her up on a blind date with a young man from the Polish section of Utica, and they agreed to go to a winter hayride together. The couple got lost and missed the hayride entirely but the extra-long car ride set the stage for a lifetime of adventures. 

Stephen Paul Wilczek and Colleen Anne Mathews were married on New Year’s Eve 1965 and soon the couple was in Rochester raising a family as Steve rose through the ranks at Xerox Corp. 

Colleen relished her role as a homemaker as she raised her sons, Mark and Greg, in Fairport. She tended to the family’s every need and looked after herself, too. She took up gardening, joined bowling and golf leagues, served as a cub scout den mother, joined the St. Johns of Rochester Women’s Club, and became the first office employee at Hynes Concrete working for her good friend (and new boss), Patricia Hynes. Colleen and Steve also took to the high seas when they bought a Catalina 22 sailboat in 1983 which they kept at Bristol Harbor on Canandaigua Lake.

Steve’s career allowed Colleen to become an ex-pat in 1986 when Xerox offered Steve the opportunity to move to England. How she loved this new chapter! She immersed herself in the culture and took full advantage of everything the experience offered. Colleen and Steve visited too many castles to count, spent Sundays walking through the English countryside or dining in manor houses, made many English friends, and traveled often to the continent.

Colleen and Steve moved to California in 1989 and enjoyed over 15 years living in Orange County. Colleen looked stunning throughout her 40s and 50s with a light California tan and a trim figure. Once again, she threw herself into her new world and made more lifelong friendships. 

Colleen and Steve moved back the Rochester area after his retirement. They built a new house in Victor which was the site of a million great memories including visits from her granddaughters.

Sometime in her mid-50s, Colleen learned that she had muscular dystrophy. While the gradual effects reduced her mobility with each passing year, it never deterred Colleen from keeping an eventful life. She and Steve traveled often, watched their grandkids grow up, and kept an active social life with family and friends. In her quieter moments, Colleen enjoyed knitting, quilting, sewing, genealogy, and keeping in contact with friends near and far – fueled by a soothing cup of tea. 

She celebrated her 75th birthday with family down on Canandaigua Lake and a couple months later the realities of the ailment finally caught up with her and her body just couldn’t go on. 

Colleen Anne (Mathews) Wilczek was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Lucille (Sweeney) Mathews, and a brother, William (Bill) Mathews. She is survived by her adoring husband of nearly 56 years, Stephen; her sons, Mark of Victor, New York; and Greg (Silvana) of Fairfield, Connecticut; granddaughters Sofia and Clara (also of Fairfield); her brothers Robert (Gina) of Northville, Michigan; Brian (Kathy) of Whitesboro, New York; and Kevin, of Whitesboro, New York; and several nieces and nephews, including her adored nieces and their husbands including Jamie (Mathews) and Marc DePerno, Karie (Mathews) and Michael Fischer, and Devin (Mathews) and Brent Valentine. Colleen also so enjoyed the friendships she began at each stop on her adventure and nurtured throughout her life.

Calling Hours Friday December 3, 4-6PM at the Richard H. Keenan Funeral Home (Egypt Location) 7501 Pittsford Palmyra Road, Fairport. Funeral Mass Saturday December 4, 10AM at St. John of Rochester Church, Fairport