November 3, 1931 - August 3, 2024
Colleen Mary Mahoney Birchill
passed away peacefully on
August 3, 2024, at the age of 92.
Colleen loathed reading
obituaries that made a person
sound like a saint, and as such,
she insisted her obituary read
accurately and fairly, so this is
her family’s best attempt to fulfill
her wishes.
While Colleen insisted her
obituary not read like she was a
saint, her family thinks she was.
Colleen was a bold, strong, fiery woman long before these traits were admired or celebrated in women. When her sewing machine acted
up, or something else angered her, she swore like a sailor, however, never in public. She routinely wrote letters to the editor in opposition to
a popular position. She spoke to the manager each and every time she
felt it was warranted – good or bad. And, she did not mince words.
In later years, a nurse referred to her as "sweetheart." Irritated by
this, Colleen said, "how would she know if I am a sweetheart?" When
asked what the nurse should call her, she said, "how about my name?"
She was a very liberated woman before it was called "Women’s
Liberation."
Colleen was born in Veteran, Wyoming, in her grandmother’s home
on November 3, 1931. She was the fourth of six children born to Effie
and Anthony Mahoney.
As a very young child, the family moved to Reardan, so her father
could work on Grand Coulee Dam. The family later moved to
Spokane, where Colleen attended St. Aloysius grade school and Holy
Names Academy before graduating from North Central High School.
She then went to work for Standard Oil in the accounting
department and shortly thereafter met and married Jack W. Birchill in
1955. They had two daughters, Shannon and Shelly.
She and Jack "flipped homes" long before that term was coined.
She cooked, baked, sewed and did alterations for Shannon and Shelly,
and continued these traditions for her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
Colleen was very active in her daughters’ lives by assisting with
school and club projects, serving as a room mother every year, helping
with all kinds of fundraisers, and being a very involved and supportive
grandmother and great-grandmother. She had a keen and honest
sense of humor and was always content to be with family.
Colleen is survived by her daughters Shannon Moser (Steve) and Shelly
Pederson (Lowell); five grandchildren – Drew Moser (Whitney), Tony
Moser (Katie), Jake Pederson (Nancy), Rachel Seedall (Connor), Libby
Pechtl (Max); and ten great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death
by her husband, Jack; her parents; and her five siblings.
Colleen’s family is holding a private memorial and interment. In lieu
of flowers, please donate in Colleen’s honor to Hospice of Spokane, St.
Jude’s, Shriners Hospital, or the charity of your choice.
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