Colleen Dee Millard September 08, 1935 - April 25, 2005 Funeral arrangements by Leyden's Funeral Home (Calgary) After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Colleen passed away, peacefully, early in the morning on Monday, April 25, at the Carewest Sarcee Hospice. Colleen was born in Cardston in 1936, younger daughter of Mildred (Ackeberg) and Harvey T. Anderson, (both predeceased). She is survived by her sister Shirley Clark, (Anderson), by daughters Joanne Millard (Juven Duarte) and Laura Millard (Brian Meehan), by son Matthew Millard, (Tracy Thomson) and by her grandsons Cole, Jonah and Noah Millard. Colleen’s life is characterized by courage and determination in the face of adversity, by dedication and passion for the arts and for art education, and by her generosity and compassion for all those around her. Colleen was a creative spirit with a remarkable talent for painting, teaching and bringing people together. Colleen touched many through her teaching from preschoolers who attended the Allied Arts Centre in the 1960s and Modern Creative Arts Centre in the 1970s, to docents and school-age children through her work as a museum educator at the Glenbow Museum in the 1980s, to the University of Calgary students in Native Studies and Arts Education in the 1990s, and hundreds of students in painting, mixed media and other classes offered through Mount Royal College, the Alberta College of Art and Design, the Wildflower Arts Centre, and privately from her home. Colleen began painting at the age of 12 when she received a scholarship to the Banff School of Fine Arts, and continued right up to and including the time she took up residence at the Sarcee Hospice in January of this year. Throughout her career as an artist Colleen was actively involved in the Alberta Society of Artists. She had many solo and group exhibitions and is represented in many private and corporate collections. She was particularly pleased to donate works to the collection of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. Colleen’s many friends will remember her for her warm, generous hospitality offered on all occasions at her home and when dining out. Her friends, family and all those she touched have been inspired, challenged and amazed by her tenacity of spirit, her courage in the face of numerous health challenges and her failure to ever feel sorry for herself. Colleen was a dedicated, loving mother who believed in her children and never stinted in expressing her love and pride. She was a doting and grateful grandmother who has passed along her love of painting to eldest grandson Cole, aged 5. Words cannot describe the quality of care, compassion and friendship offered to Colleen in the last months at the Carewest Sarcee Hospice by staff, fellow residents, volunteers and her faithful friends. Even in the final stages of her illness Colleen touched many lives with her laughter, determination and her enjoyment of life. Colleen has an enduring legacy in the hearts and minds of many. As per her wishes, a park bench will be dedicated in her honour in Woods Park, where Colleen enjoyed walking her dog Luna along the Elbow River.