Obituary of Maureen Colasanti

Maureen Riordan Colasanti born May 23, 1945, passed peacefully in her home, surrounded by family on June 28, 2021. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dennis M. Riordan and Bernice E. Riordan, her 2 sisters, Patricia Dvorak & Mary Ellen Zalusky, her husband James W. Colasanti and her eldest son David Colasanti. She leaves behind three children, Dennis (Brenda) Colasanti, Monica (Rocky) Forthofer and Keri Colasanti and four grandchildren and her brother Mike (Roxine) Riordan. She also left behind so many nieces and nephews whom she loved and adored. Maureen lived a life centered around Jesus, our Beloved Savior. At 18 years of age, she joined a Franciscan convent in Minnesota and was Sister Dennis for 2 years. She left the convent because she didn"t want to move around. She attended ASU for a brief time where she met and married her husband at the Newman Center in March of 1968. Jim joined the military shortly after they married and with irony at its best, they traveled for 20 plus years with a promise to return to Arizona after retirement. They returned to Arizona with their 2 daughters in 1990. Maureen was a pillar in her Church and Marriage Encounter Community, both of which she was actively involved for 30 plus years even preceding the Arizona years. Her love for children and teaching the Catholic faith led her to volunteer at the Catechesis of the Good Shephard long enough to watch her 3 & 4 year old students graduate HS and beyond. She made friends everywhere she went, and her hugs were the best hugs in the world. She loved singing, laughing, dancing and playing games with family. She was an amazing example of God"s love and compassion. A Visitation with the Holy Rosary will be held Sunday, July 11, 2021, from 6-8pm (the Rosary being at 7pm) at Falconer Funeral Home, 251 W. Juniper Rd., Gilbert, AZ 85233 A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, July 12, 2021, at 10am at St. Anne Catholic Church, 440 E. Elliot Rd., Gilbert, AZ 85234 with the burial following at Queen of Heaven Cemetery 1562 E Baseline Rd, Mesa, AZ 85204 A reception will follow at St. Thomas Byzantine Church on 19 W Bruce Ave, Gilbert, AZ 85233 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Aid to Women"s Center in her name http://aidtowomencenter.org/donors