Obituaries

Andrea Rancaño from Panama City Beach, FL

"Colleen touched so many lives in the very best way. I’m grateful I got the chance to know her and grow up with her. She was always the strongest and most positive person in the room. The world will not be the same without her and she will be missed by so many. Sending lots of love, thoughts, and prayers to your family during this tough time.Love, Andrea"

Kim Frost Fuglsang from Allerød, Denmark, AK

"So, so sorry to hear about this unbelieveable loss. Please receive our heartfelt condolences in this difficult time and dont forget to keep and protect all sweet memories now and forever. Kind regards from an old childhood Hornslet-friend."

Mikayla LaFleur from Newton, MA

"I am so so sorry for your loss. Colleen was such a beautiful soul and I feel so unbelievably lucky to have know her. She was so funny, genuine, and caring and had such a big heart. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers."

from ,

"Hi, this is Mikayla, Colleen’s old roomate. I am so so sorry for your loss. I can’t even believe it, Colleen was such a beautiful soul and I feel so unbelievably lucky to have know her. I don’t even have words for how sorry I am. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers"

John Kelly from Bloomington, MN

"We are so sorry for your loss. As parents and grandparents we can not imagine what you must be feeling right now. May all the memories of her and the times you had together stay with you always. Love, John and Teresa Kelly"

Asbjorn Christensen from Victoria, Australia , AK

"Dear sweet Colleen. You have fought a hard fight and you have fought well. I just want to let you know that you will live on in the hearts of all of us who have had the privilege of knowing you on your journey through life. To us you are special. You are loved by so many, and that is a fine legacy to have. I hope your coming days will be peaceful surrounded by your loved ones. All our thoughts are with you. Asbjørn and family in Australia"

Erin Granger from Elgin, IL

"Colleen, you were my first friend. We were so little but I still remember meeting you like it was yesterday. I was so shy to say hello but you were fearless, you marched right up to me and asked my name and we were friends ever since. You are one of the funniest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Your bravery is truly unmatched. You were a talented performer, the best makeup artist, and the baddest bitch. I love you so much, thank you for helping me get out of my shell and teaching me how to accept myself. I wish I had told you how much I learned from you and how much I look up to you. Someday I’ll sit down with you and tell you all this and I know you’ll laugh and tell me that you already knew and then you’ll beat my ass for posting all this low quality pictures we took in middle school. I love you Colleen, RIP 🕊"

Channing Sparks from Elgin, IL

"Colleen, I haven’t been able to stop thinking of you today 🤍 I miss you and know you’re singing and dancing up there. I love you! Rest in paradise beautiful ✨ Our theater family will never forget you."

Maggie Wise from Elgin , IL

"Ive had a lot of time to think of what to say today... Colleen Christensen was one of the first friends I made when I move to burlington and started going to HBT in the 4th grade. We had our little group of four that always hung out together on the playground, pretending to be the characters from W.I.T.C.H and goofing around. My favorite birthday parties as a kid were always the ones at colleen's because her birthday was in December, and we always did fun christmasy things like going down to navy pier. Colleen and her family took me to my first camping music festival in 5th grade, and that was such a blast and honestly started my love for concerts. Colleen was so contagiously funny and unapologetically herself that when you hung out with her you didn't care how goofy you were or how silly you looked. I can't even think of a bad time that I had with her. As life goes though and as we grew older, we grew apart and joined different friend groups and didn't hang out as much. But whenever we had a class together in highschool, we'd always be passing notes to each other (many of which I have stashed away in my room to this day) and always made a point to say hi to each other in the hallways. A lot of time passed after highschool, but we reconnected through Instagram once I saw what amazing talent she had with makeup. She was a natural beauty, but wow her makeup skills are unmatched. She always kept her messages open for me, and talked me through some pretty tough things i was going through despite everything that she was burdened with when it came to her illness. It always amazed me that she could be so happy and strong and willing to be a shoulder to lean on when she herself was suffering. The last time I got to see Colleen in person was last summer when I had her over to my house for tacos. It was so nice to see her after such a long time and just catch up on all the good, the bad, and all the memories we had together. Colleen was such a strong person, and i thought if anyone could beat cancer it would be her... I'd do anything to hear her teasingly call me "coconut head" again.I love you so much Colleen 💜 rest in peace you beautiful soul"

Holly Ann Wolf from Elgin , IL

"12 years and some change will never be enough time spent with you. My heart and body filled with grief. So many things left undone. But I am happy you can finally be pain free and have fun again. I could not ask for a better best friend to be by side all these years. No one will ever replace you my love."

DIANE M TAVOLACCI from Elgin, IL

"We were so sorry to hear of Colleens passing. Such a sweet wonderful girl and friend to our daughter. Prayers to her family. Rest in Peace Colleen."

Jenna Lang from Elgin, IL

"ColleenieI’m sorry for not doing better and being there for you the way you needed and deserved. I hope you can forgive me for not being the friend I should have been.Life is so cruel, and I’m so sorry for the pain and suffering you endured. But I am grateful to know that you are free from that pain now. I will do my best to not mourn for long so I can honor your life and our memories the right way.Thank you for all the memories, laughter and tomfoolery. I will be sure to play Disco Pogo in the car at maximum volume and dance to the beat and binge watch American Dad with all the snacks. I’ll be sure to start with the “ask her why her breath was so nastyyy” episode.I will hold you close to my heart for the rest of my life. Fly high, Colleenie, now that you are free from these mortal chains.With love, Nenna"

Candace Logeais from Roseville, MN

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to Colleen's family. Time spent with Colleen was much too short. May you be comforted by memories and the love of family near and far. We are holding you near to our hearts."

Lynn G from CC pball, IL

"Kerri & Family… I’m so sorry for you loss and send you my heartfelt condolences. Colleen sounded like an extraordinary young woman! May God comfort you all during this difficult time. You are in my prayers. ❤️ Lynn"

Susan Kelly Wagner from Plymouth, MN

"My dearest Kerri, I wish I could be there to bring you comfort. When my mom passed away in 1983 you were a young women. I can still remember like it was yesterday, I was sitting on the sofa and you came and knelt in front of me. I don't think you spoke, but you took my hands to hold . The kind way you looked at me made me collapse in your arms and hold on. I so wish I could bring some of that comfort for you today, I hope you have lots of family and friends there to ease your pain from your loss. I will enclose my phone number in case you ever need to talk, I will be there to listen. Very fondly, your cousin Susie Kelly Wagner. 612-607-4931"

Uncle Bob Kelly from st. Paul, , MN

"Today Colleen is being welcomed on another shore by grandparents Pete and Shirley Kelly and it is a great homecoming! It is difficult for those left here to mourn the loss of one so very young and hopefully we will understand one day. My heart goes out to all of her family !"

Godmother Nynne Karen Nørlund Steenild from Rønde - Denmark - Europe, AK

"Dear Colleen, my beautiful, lovely, sweet, kind, funny and strong god daughter. I am sure, that your grandparents Hanne and Jørgen Nørlund Christensen, also are welcomming you home to day.You loved acting and we have talked a lot about, to be present on the stage, with real emotions, not playing but being true. You were true and present, with all your feelings, in your life, and what a strong life. You will always be present in our hearts, full of memeries of how wounderful a soul your are. love from your godmother. Jeg elsker dig!"

Nynne Karen Nørlund Steenild, Godmother from Rønde - Denmark , AK

"Dear Colleen, you are a beautiful soul and I am sure, that your Grandparents Hanne and Jørgen Nørlund Christensen also have Welcomming you home in heaven. You loved Denmark, and how you felt related to the danich people. We always had some wounderful days, when you and the family visited your family in Denmark. Lots of funny and lovely memeries, wich we always will have with us in our hearts. Jeg elsker dig!"

Uncle Anker Nørlund Christensen from Aarhus, Denmark , IL

"“So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love” Paul’s 1 Corinthians, 13. R.I.P. Colleen."

Gabrielle Busenburg from Lombard, IL

"My dearest condolences for Colleen’s passing. She was one of the closest friends in my life, and she could always lift up my spirits when we spoke. I had the privilege of spending time with Colleen doing what she loved most: traveling. We spent the 4th of July together in Venice, Los Angelas one year. I will never forget her or that trip. Her firecracker personality always kept life feeling positive, regardless of our hardships. Colleen is now within every firework, every blooming flower, every beautiful sunset, and every miracle. Colleen lives on within our hearts of those she touched and impacted."

Harden Family from Algonquin, IL

"Deepest regrets for the families, friends and acquaintances of Colleen. Although not known but through a passing greeting to her, I feel like I know more about her after the beautiful service today in remembrance. It's my hope that her legacy and memories of life well lived, provide future comfort and pleasant thoughts to those who are experiencing such grief now. Rest in Peace"