Colleen Mary Sowinski

OBIT: Colleen Sowinski (Nee McHale)
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Colleen Mary Sowinski, beloved wife, sister, aunt, and friend. Colleen passed away on September 16, 2026, at the age of seventy-eight, after a long battle with cancer. Colleen was born in Chicago on June 7, 1948, to Charles and Hazel McHale. She is survived by her husband, Bill, her sister Celeste, her sisters-in-law Mary, Jeanne and Kathy, and brothers-in law, Kenneth and Mark, as well as many nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, and grand-nieces.

Colleen was a graduate of the University of Kentucky and married Bill in 1984 in her hometown of Chicago. She followed Bill in his career from Chicago, to Toledo, to Minneapolis and then to Milwaukee. Within each city she established a reputation as a superb teacher and creator of various crafts including sewing, quilting, and basket weaving. Over the decades, she and her students won numerous prizes, awards, and ribbons for their craftworks. For several years Colleen owned the Berry Bears gift basket company and also assisted Bernina in testing and developing sewing and quilting machine stitching and quilting functions.

Colleen was notably soft-hearted and kind, to both people and animals. She always cared for and loved one or more pets, including Molly, Critter, Muffin, TJ, Patches, Scamper, and Izzy. Due to her kindness, patience, compassion, and generosity, she developed deep friendships with many of her students, customers, and neighbors. Colleen had the wonderful gift of converting acquaintances into friends.

While we mourn the loss of Colleen, we are grateful for the years she was our gift. We will always remember her legacy of kindness and love.
May Colleen rest in peace.

At Colleen’s request her funeral services and internment will be private.

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