Colleen Annette O’Toole, loving wife, mother, and friend, passed away on September 15, 2025, in West Richland, Washington. She was born on June 24, 1952, in Portland, Oregon, to Harley and Barbara Frederici.

Her parents were at her grandmother’s house for dinner when Barbara went into labor. Colleen was almost delivered in the car since her mother insisted on returning home for her suitcase before going to St. Vincent Hospital.

Colleen was a very resilient person. She was quite close to her mother since her dad’s home remodeling and construction work required a lot of travel around the Pacific Northwest.She overcame heartache as a young girl after abruptly losing her mother at the tender age of 12. She found strength and support initially through her grandmother, Hazel Tucker, who stayed with her and her brother Don while dad traveled for work. Her dad remarried in 1966. Her stepmother, Helen Frederici,became a mom and close friend filling the role in her life.

In 1970, Colleen graduated from David Douglas High School in Portland. She would get together with old friends from school years on a regular basis for parties, picnics, shopping trips, and travels to places like Yellowstone and Hawaii.

She met her future husband, Steve, in 1973 at a gathering of mutual friends from high school. The group met as friends for 5 years until Steve asked her out on a date. They continued dating after Steve moved to the Tri-Cities to start a career at Hanford in 1978. Their long distance dating blossomed into marriage in 1980 at St Theresa Church in Portland Oregon. They bought their first house in West Richland in 1982.

In 1996 they adopted their first son Michael. Colleen demonstrated her determination when she was notified that paperwork for his immigration from South Korea was held up in Spokane (don’t mess with an expecting mother). She made numerous phone calls without result, so she called Steve at work to let him know she was headed to Spokane. She found the office and refused to leave until the paperwork was finished. Patrick’s adoption in 1997 followed. Together, they created a home filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories.

A dedicated and hands-on mother, Colleen poured her heart into raising her boys and supporting their school activities. She read to them as infants and prepared them school. She was a staple at school events, enthusiastically volunteering to assist with book fairs at Tapteal, Lewis & Clark, Enterprise Middle School, and Hanford High School. She also encouraged her boys’ numerous activities outside of school, including Michael’s participation in cross-country running and Tae Kwon Do and Patrick’s involvement with little league baseball and band.

In addition to her family and community involvement, Colleen had a deep passion for crafting. She loved sewing clothing and accessories, quilting, and needlepoint. One of her notable achievements was building a canoe, which stands as a testament to her love for woodworking and the outdoors. Coffee Lattes with friends were among her simple pleasures, allowing her to connect and chat. She engaged in many outdoor adventures including canoeing, camping, cross country skiing, and snorkeling as long as there was a hot shower and warm clean sheets were waiting at the end.

Colleen’s determination and resilience was challenged by a massive stroke in 2021. She worked tirelessly to regain her mobility and independence with a lot of help and encouragement from family, therapists and caregivers. Her spirit of perseverance touched everyone around her.

Colleen was preceded in death by: Harley Frederici, Barbara Frederici, Helen Frederici, and Hazel Tucker. She is survived by her loving husband, Steven O’Toole, and their two sons, Patrick O’Toole, Michael O’Toole, and her brother, Don Frederici.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Einan’s Chapel at 12:00 PM, where family and friends are invited to gather and honor Colleen’s legacy.

Colleen Annette O’Toole leaves behind a legacy of love, creativity, and unwavering strength that will resonate in the hearts of all who knew her. Her memory will continue to inspire those she touched throughout her beautiful life.

Her family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations be given to Tri-Cities Food Bank.