On March 28, 1932 Colleen Louise Atwell was born in Eureka, California to Mathilde and Stewart Atwell. On July 1, 2025 surrounded by her loving family, Colleen took her last breath, and went to join her family in heaven. Colleen was 93 years old. 

Colleen was not only the matriarch of our family, but the light in our lives, the glue that held us all together.

Colleen was well known as an expert cake decorator, a successful seamstress, an avid gardener, a faithful servant to her beloved parish Sacred Heart Church, a lifelong volunteer of Saint Vincent de Paul, and best of all the mother of thirteen kids, and ‘Grandma Colleen’ to oh about seventy or so grandkids, great-grandkids and  great-great-grandkids. 

She was the fourth of five children, growing up in Eureka. Her father Stewart was a carpenter and her mother Mathilde worked at Daly’s Department Store as Head Bookkeeper for over sixty years. 

Colleen attended Nazareth Academy starting kindergarten at age four. At the age of eleven, young Colleen took over as head cook for her family. She also milked the family cow before breakfast and after school every day. After eighth grade, she attended Eureka High School where she excelled in Home Economics classes, and was on the “A” Honor Roll. 

One night, in May, 1946, Colleen’s life changed.  Jim Cruz, a Navy veteran recently back from service, happened to go to a dance with his friend Max, and met a dashing beauty by the name of Colleen Atwell. 

Colleen’s sparkling eyes and mischievous smile caught Jim’s eye, and that rascal of a girl told young Jim that she was seventeen (she was really fourteen!). On June 7, 1947 at “about 9 p.m.” Jim and Colleen had their first date at a Portuguese festa. 

According to Colleen, “He was too shy to come over and meet my mom and dad for a while. My mother took one look at him and said, ‘Oh! He’ll want to marry her!’ My dad liked him because he was a carpenter.”

Jim and Colleen Cruz were sweethearts for seventy-five years. 

Regarding their engagement, Colleen recalls, “He got me a ring for my birthday, He came over with that chicken sh*t grin, and I knew he had something going on.”

Jim said, “She wanted to get married sooner, but her dad wouldn’t let her. He wanted her to finish high school.” 

So that vixen Colleen finished high school a full year early, graduated on a Friday and got married the next morning at 10 a.m.

Jim and Colleen were married at St. Bernard’s Church, in Eureka on June 11, 1949. Before Jim passed away in 2021, they were lucky enough to celebrate their 72nd wedding anniversary.

On April 4, 1950, their first daughter, Jeanette was born. Joined (shortly) after by a row of beautiful little girls, Vera, Marla and Connie. Then in 1956, their first son Mark was born. Jim and Colleen went on to have thirteen kids in all, Dan, Tim, Andrea, Matt, Teresa, Tony, Monica and their final baby boy Jeremy Jon was born in 1971.

If you were lucky enough to know Colleen Cruz, then you were certainly lucky. Whether it be her laugh that lit up every room, a warm hug, a freshly baked pie, or a homemade card, Colleen Cruz loved us all so very well. 

A long life lived well, she suffered heart ache these last few years, losing the love of her life in September 2021, when Jim passed away at age 95. In November 2022, her beautiful older sister Anita Brazil also passed away. And then we all suffered the tremendous tragedy of losing Colleen’s beloved granddaughter Tara Sanders in February 2023. 

It is said that what you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. Well, Colleen Cruz did a lot of weaving in her ninety-three years, and her family and friends will carry her love in their hearts forever.

Colleen was preceded in death by  her husband Jim Cruz, her parents Stewart and Mathilde Atwell, her brothers Warren and Richard Atwell, her sister Anita Brazil, and her granddaughter Tara Sanders. 

Colleen is survived by her sister Joan Golbov, daughters Jeanette Cruz (Marc Matteoli); Vera Cruz; Marla Sanders; Constance Mangels; Andrea Murillo; Teresa Rasmussen (Jeff); Monica Barnum (Bill); and sons Mark Cruz (Liz); Dan Cruz (Terrie); Tim Cruz (Julie); Matt Cruz (Terri); Tony Cruz (Ida); and Jeremy Cruz (Kate). She is survived by grandchildren Mason, Maria, Janna, Jaime, Mario, Jordan, Joelle, Michella, Bethany, Ryan, James, Aleta, Kenny, Katie, Cody, Jed, Mickey, Tyson, Jake, Joe P., Jesse, Kelsie, Emily, Lindsey, Brandon, Ross, Alyssa, Joe C., Amanda, Chase, Jarae, James Q., Aurelia, and Sofina. Colleen is survived by over forty great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren (and counting!). Colleen is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.

A celebration of Colleen’s life will occur at Sacred Heart Church in Eureka on Saturday, July 26th, 2025 at 1 p.m. with a reception immediately following at the Sacred Shed. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Colleen’s name to Hospice or the Betty Chinn Foundation. 

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