Colleen Therese Elliott, 65, Truro, passed away surrounded by family at the Colchester Regional Hospital on May 17, 2008, after a short but truly brave battle with kidney cancer. Nurse Colleen spent more than 30 years as a truly remarkable caregiver - predominantly for seniors. She recently retired from the Mira Long Term Care Center in Truro, where she considered the staff and residents part of her extended family. Colleen earned her nursing degree from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Toronto, and always looked forward to the reunions, where she could catch up with her former college mates. As a young girl growing up with a father (the late Quintin Gleeson) in the Canadian Armed Forces, Colleen travelled the world and learned the value of contributing to a better society. While her family was stationed at 2 Wing Air Force Base, Grostenquin, France, Colleen showed at an early age her talents as a leader. She was one of a select few chosen to participate in a combined Girl Guide/Boy Scout World Jamboree in Edinburgh, Scotland. She also earned her Girl Guide Gold Cord (later known as the Canada Cord); and as an adult Colleen spent time as a Girl Guide commissioner in Oshawa, Ont. Colleen’s gentle, thoughtful, and endearing ways will be sadly missed by her mother, Mary (Whiteley) Gleeson, and her younger sister, Catherine (Ralph Kralic) Cathcart, all of Brampton, Ont. Also taking Colleen’s wonderful spirit into their hearts are husband, John Elliott, son Brendan (Audra) Elliott of Stratford, P.E.I., and daughter Theresa (John) Ferris of Guelph, Ont. Colleen also had a unique connection with her two grandchildren, Josh Elliott and Izak Ferris. Josh and Izak always looked forward to visits from their Nana, and the mysterious goodies she would always have for them in her ‘magic suitcase.’ Colleen never missed a special occasion for any of her dear nephews (Tim and Greg Cathcart), or her precious niece Sarah Cathcart. On one of Colleen’s final days, a local provincial MLA presented Colleen with a resolution he read on the floor of the legislature, marking her lifelong accomplishments within the field of cancer research, education, prevention and palliative care. During that presentation, Colleen was asked if there was anything she hadn’t accomplished within the Canadian Cancer Society. And quite remarkably, the evidence clearly shows Colleen had participated in or touched just about every corner of the Canadian Cancer Society. Colleen’s dedication to the Canadian Cancer Society began in 1977 in Truro, and over the next 31 years her unwavering commitment to the organization included significant contributions locally, provincially and nationally. At various points over the years, Colleen was president of the Canadian Cancer Society, Nova Scotia Chapter; a member of the Canadian Cancer Society’s national board of directors; and chair of the Truro Interagency Committee for Smoke Free Youth. Colleen also spent time helping to decide what cancer drug research would be funded in Canada through her position with the National Cancer Institute of Canada. She was also most recently chair of the board of directors of the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation. All the positions Colleen held, and contributions she made, were always done with profound humility. And yet recognition of Colleen’s talents and accomplishments were plentiful. She was named the 1986 Canadian Cancer Society Nova Scotia Division Volunteer of the Year; 1988 Zonta International, Truro Chapter, Volunteer of the Year; she was a 1992 recipient of the Canada 125 Medal in recognition of her volunteer efforts with the Canadian Cancer Society; in 2001 Colleen was named an honorary life member of the Canadian Cancer Society; she was a 2002 recipient of the Golden Jubilee Anniversary Medal; and last year she was recognized with the prestigious Distinguished Leadership Volunteer of the Year Award for the Canadian Cancer Society. Colleen also found time to be a messenger of God through her strong Christian Catholic faith. She and her husband shared duties teaching confirmation class for several years, and were the lead couple at the Queen of Apostles Encounter Centre. Colleen had a strong sense of family, and always cherished those Christmas trips to Stratford, P.E.I. to spend time with her son Brendan’s family (including the four cats and the dog). And it was tradition after those visits to spend some quality time alone with husband John, at their favourite get-away, White Point Beach Resort. Colleen’s love of art and discussion surrounding it always made her face light up. Whether it was a painting with bold colours or soft colours, it made no difference to Colleen. She just knew what she liked when she saw it. Of particular note, Colleen met Terry Fox in Truro when he was making his way across Canada during his Marathon of Hope. This was before all the media attention Fox deservedly started to receive. Colleen saw then that Terry Fox would soon become a national hero. And today, those who had the privilege of getting to know Colleen would undoubtedly say she too is a hero in our eyes. Special thanks truly needs to be passed on to the palliative care tag-team of Nurse Ann McKim and Dr. David Henderson who made this very difficult time a little easier for all of us, including Colleen. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow St., Truro. A funeral mass will be Thursday at 11 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, Truro. Family interment will take place later that day at Pine Grove Cemetery, East Stewiacke. A celebration of Colleen’s life for her family and friends from the Mira will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Colleen’s memory to the Canadian Cancer Society. Online condolences can be made by visiting: www.colchestercommunity.com