Colleen Belle Bartlett

IN LOVING MEMORY 

ST. JOHNSVILLE - Our remarkable Colleen Belle Bartlett left this world on January 10th, 2026, at 12:29am. She leaves a legacy of love in her adoring family: husband Michael, daughters Ashley and Molly, and granddaughter, Estelle. Colleen was a loving and devoted spouse, and a protective and selfless mother and grandmother. Her girls were her everything, and she will forever be everything to them.

Colleen was born April 13th, 1951, in Little Falls, New York, the youngest of seven children to Ethel and Floyd Stever. She is also survived by her beloved siblings Ginny Brundage and Marianne Seeley, her cherished and devoted niece Donna Springer, nephew Jason Brundage, friend Judy Burkdorf, and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Colleen overcame many personal struggles in her life including colorectal cancer and a broken neck. Alzheimer’s disease may have robbed her of her golden years and many aspects of herself, but not of her natural humor, selflessness, loyalty, intuition, and her interminable ability to love both fiercely and tenderly.

Food was a vehicle with which she delivered love. She cooked and baked long past the time she was physically able to smell or taste her creations. It was her love language. Loved ones received food or baked goods for goals scored; bad days; birthdays; sick days; first days; in thanks; for no reason at all. Her chocolate chips were always in demand at local bake sales. One year for the Peggy Blais Tournament, she baked and donated almost 700 cookies to raise money in her sister’s memory.

Christmas was always her favorite day, and she went above and beyond to make it special for everyone she loved. She spent days cooking, baking and preparing to host her family on Christmas day. Her Christmas spirit was unmatched. Her trees and decorations were a point of pride that delighted not only her, but family and passersby. She amassed ornaments to capture personal aspects of every year and gave her daughters their life stories in carefully curated collections of ornaments and stories. That kind of thoughtfulness was effortless and natural to her.

Colleen had a variety of jobs: Miss Schaeffer, cheerleading coach, bus driver, and dental assistant to Dr. Keba. But her favorite job was being a mother. She was an absolutely selfless mother with a bottomless well of love. Colleen’s favorite period of motherhood was in Seabrook, New Hampshire, where she got to take daily walks by the ocean with her young daughters. Even as she was in hospital and approaching her final days, she would tell her family to rest, eat, care for themselves first. She was forever offering to make food, telling her family to “put your jammies on and go to bed” if they were tired. Colleen mothered not just her children, but her nieces and nephews, family friends, pets, and “granddogs”. Everything and everyone were a receptacle for love and care, and many learned how to love or how to be a loving mother by her example.

The only thing Colleen adored more than being a mother was being a grandmother (“Gogo”). To Gogo, Estelle was a masterpiece. Perfection in child form: brilliant, creative, beautiful, funny, and - like her - outspoken, fearless and sassy. She cherished every moment with her Stelly - hours of toddler facetimes, unsolicited makeovers, silly games, baking together. Eternity would have been too short to spend with her girls.

Colleen was creative, competitive and fun. Halloween costumes were a sport at which she excelled. Scrabble was a competitive event at home, and she was delighted when one of her girls won and always accused Mike of cheating if he did. She lived by her mantra that you have to make your own fun. She loved porch sitting, people watching, games, cloud gazing, pranks and general mischief like telling her kids silly white lies just to tease them if they believed them. We believe she is making mischief in another realm with her mother Ethel, sister Peg, brother Jack, Aunt Peggy, and Uncle Freddy.

Colleen’s family wishes to extend gratitude to the St. Johnsville Police Department for their support and understanding, and to Albany Medical Center Unit C2 and Palliative teams for their exceptional guidance, kindness and skillful care. Per her wishes and perpetual avoidance of cold, Colleen will be cremated.

Funeral services will be held at Enea Family Funeral Home at 9 Center St., St. Johnsville, New York on Saturday, January 24th, 2026. Calling hours will begin at 11:00 am, with services starting at 1:00 pm. Services are open to friends, family, and loved ones who celebrated and enjoyed her in life. Please make contributions in her honor to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Association in lieu of flowers.

Colleen’s obituary may be viewed on the funeral home website by visiting www.eneafamily.com on the Internet.

Enea, Ciaccia, & Applegate Funeral Directors (518) 568-2300.