Colleen Marie (Trend) Pate, 67, of Salt Lake City, UT passed away on March 2, 2018.
Colleen was born March 26, 1950 to Eunice Ellen and Anthony Waclawik Trend in Taunton, Massachusetts. She was married to Frank Pate and had three children, whom she adored.
After her divorce, she graduated from Meredith College in May 1993. She worked for many years as a child care worker, preschool teacher and center director. Working as a coordinator at an inner-city community center was one of her most enjoyable and challenging positions.
Colleen enjoyed instructing at local community colleges as well as training instructors for The Children's Service Society of Utah from 1997-2003. She had a deep well of empathy and loved serving and helping children and their families.
Creating and enjoying the arts inspired and soothed her: music, literature, theater, fine art and photography brought her peace on her most challenging days. Colleen also enjoyed writing and had several articles published in church publications.
Her greatest joy was in being a mother and grandmother. She was content and happy as she played games, created projects and spent time with her grandchildren. They brought her much joy and pride.
Colleen had a strong testimony and relationship with her loving Heavenly Father and personal Savior, Jesus Christ. She relied on them heavily and often. Though her life was filled with personal and emotional struggles, she found hope and peace in her faith and relationship with God.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Eunice and Anthony Trend. Colleen is survived by her siblings Cyndi (Jim) O'Brien, Claudia Trend, Claire Graystoke, Clifford (Connie) Trend and Craig (Sandy) Trend. She is also survived by her children, Kerry (David) Carlson, Nathan (Virgina) Pate, and Elizabeth (Jeremy) Hill as well as her grandchildren Mary, Kathryn, Hannah, Seth, Benjamin, Ani and Jacob.
Her family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Avalon Valley Rehabilitation for their exceptional care and support.
A Memorial Service will be held onFriday, March 30 at 11:00 am, followed by a light lunch, at the LDS chapel at 860 East Downington Avenue (1820 South) in Salt Lake City, UT. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Children's Service Society of Utah, or another children's charity.