Aldine Ruth (Ahrens) Colley

Aldine Ruth (Ahrens) Colley, 94, passed away on December 21.  “Oma” to her family, she was
loved by all and gave generously of herself.
Born in 1926 and raised in St. Louis, MO, Aldine studied medical technology at William Woods
College.  While completing her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Missouri in Columbia, she
met, and ultimately married, Earl Colley.  In 1951, they moved to North Syracuse, NY where
they raised four children. 
Aldine was a devoted homemaker and loving mother who served her family a home-cooked
meal complete with a “made-from-scratch” dessert promptly at 5:30 every evening. The young
Colley family enjoyed the great outdoors, including frequent family camping trips to the
Adirondacks. Once her children were in school full time, Aldine returned to the workforce
where she worked in various medical labs in the Syracuse area. 
Aldine was active in the North Syracuse Methodist Church, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts.  As a
Girl Scout leader extraordinaire, she took her troop on many camping trips, taught her girls
valuable life skills and a strong work ethic, catered community dinners to raise funds for troop
adventures and took a busload of girls to the 1967 World’s Fair in Montreal.
Aldine was an accomplished self-employed seamstress who also produced much of the clothing
for her family.  Hand stitched quilts, one of which won first place at the State Fair, were given as
gifts on special occasions.  She took great pleasure selling her creations at craft fairs all over NY,
often with a few grandchildren in tow.  An avid bridge player, Aldine gathered with friends once
or twice a week around the card table.
Aldine is survived by her children Barbara (Allen) Winegard of Baldwinsville, NY, David (Nancy)
Colley of Seattle, WA, Edward (Kathryn) Colley of Canyon Country, CA, Heather (Larry)
Antonacci of Scottsville, VA; grandchildren Melody (Jonathan) Scott, Karen (Stuart) Teale,
Melissa (Tim) Colley-Cantu, Suzanne (Billy) Bennett, Carolyn Colley, Sandra Morrissey, James
(Jessica) Colley, Matthew Colley, Lance Colley; and twelve great-grandchildren.  She was
predeceased by her husband, L. Earl Colley, and brothers Frederick and Paul Ahrens.  Grandsons
Alan and Stephen Colley also predeceased the Oma they loved so much.
Many thanks to the staff at Syracuse Home for making the last few years of her life happy ones. 
No services will be held.  Contributions in memory of Aldine may be made to the Shriners
Children’s Hospital, an organization near and dear to her heart.

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