Colette Keleher

Colette Marie Keleher, born August 24, 1960, passed away on September 6, 2026, following a short battle with cancer.

Colette was an Illinois native and spent most of her life living in and around Chicago. She had a love for the arts and enjoyed taking in ballet performances, musicals, and museums whenever she had the opportunity. Reading was another passion of hers, and she could spend hours lost in a classic Charles Dickens novel, or a book about politics and public affairs. Colette combined her love of children and the arts while working for the Chicago Parks District for several years in her younger adult years.

Colette loved to travel, and her children have fond memories of trips to Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon. She also had a special love for the Colorado mountains. Imagine her surprise when she finally moved to Colorado, only to find herself living on the Eastern Plains! She spent several years in Sterling, Colorado, before eventually returning home to Illinois.

For the last five years of her life, Colette lived at the Independence Center in Waukegan, Illinois, where she formed many wonderful friendships with people who soon became like family. She also found joy in her work at Marshall’s Department Store, where she loved seeing all the fun decorations, helping customers find what they were looking for, and, every now and then, trying on a little of that blue eye shadow herself.

Colette was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Keleher; her parents, Suzanne and Gilbert Frankum; and her brothers, Robert Frankum, Gilbert Frankum, and Christopher Frankum.

She is survived by her children, Daniel St. Martin, Gregory St. Martin (Sarah), and Michelle Reeves (Terry); her grandchildren, Rebekkah St. Martin, Ethan Grauberger, Chad St. Martin (Rhiana), Hailey St. Martin-Peters (Ethan), Annabelle Reeves, Aaron Reeves, Emily Reeves, and Hayden Reeves; as well as several nieces, nephews, siblings, and dear friends.

Colette will be laid to rest among the Colorado mountains she loved so dearly. In lieu of flowers or cards, please consider donating to the Go Fund Me Account to help make Colette’s last wishes of being cremated, and having her ashes spread in Colorado come true. Go Fund Me Link.