Colleen Odele Pezzanite Boyle, 64, of French Creek, W.Va., died at WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital in Buckhannon on Saturday, June 1, 2024.
She was born March 19, 1960, in Rockville, Md., a daughter of the late John and Kathleen McGrath Pezzanite.
On Jan. 26, 1991, she married Francis X. Boyle, who survives. She is also survived by one son, Steven Gaughan and fiancée, Meghan Malloy, of West End, N.C.; one daughter, Natalie Boyle, of French Creek, W.Va.; two grandsons, Aiden and Grayson Gaughan, both of West End, N.C.; one brother, John Pezzanite and wife, Sue, of North Carolina; three sisters, Kathleen McCaffrey and husband, Michael, of Harrisburg, Pa., Maureen Pezzanite, of Somerset, Pa., and Aileen Biser and husband, Jerry, of Clarksburg; one sister-in-law, Karen Pezzanite; and 13 nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one son, Francis “Tad” Boyle and one brother, Michael Pezzanite.
Colleen graduated from Bishop Walsh High School, then Allegheny Community College in 1986, with an associate’s degree in respiratory therapy. She was a respiratory therapist at Mon General Hospital and Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, then later at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Buckhannon. In 1996, she pursued a teaching degree in math and science from Glenville State University, graduating in 2000. Colleen went on to teach at Martinsburg North Middle School, then at Lewis County High School before establishing the Respiratory Therapist Technical Program at Pierpont Community and Technical College and remained there until her retirement in 2010.
Colleen had a passion for caring for those often overlooked in society. She sought out the introverted students in school to bring them out of their shell to enhance their learning. Colleen provided homes for 34 dogs and 18 cats, most often the ones in shelters that were overlooked due to age, disability or infirmity. There were no barriers for taking in needy dogs or cats.
Friends will be received at the Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 8. A Funeral Mass will be held at the Holy Rosary Church in Buckhannon at 2 p.m. on Saturday, with Father Ed Tetteh, SVD, officiating. In honoring her wishes, Colleen will be cremated after the services.
Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Animal Friends of Barbour County, 320 Valley Bend Road, Belington, WV 26250.
Condolences:
www.polingstclair.com
