Colleen M. Turley, age 54, passed away suddenly from natural causes at her home on Friday, January 
2, 2026. She was born on June 13, 1971, in South Bend to James and Sharon (Quigley) Turley and 
remained a lifelong resident of the community she loved. She was a cherished daughter, sister, 
aunt, and friend to all who knew her.

Colleen was a 1990 graduate of John Adams High School and was employed with Meijer, where she was 
known for her kindness, reliability, and friendly spirit. Family was at the center of Colleen’s 
life. She adored her nieces and nephews and took great joy in helping care for them over the years. 
She was a nanny to Jack and Emma for many years. She helped out with babysitting for her sister 
Anne's children often and she spent a summer aiding with childcare for her brother Greg's kids. 
Colleen loved each one of her nieces and nephews wholeheartedly and they loved her immensely in 
return.

She is survived by her mother, Sharon Turley; her siblings, Anne Marie (James) Burns, Michael (Amy) 
Turley, Cynthia (Matthew) Monger, Kathleen (John) Cox, and Gregory (Katy) Turley; and thirteen 
nieces and nephews: Samuel (Hannah Mechtenberg), Michael Burns, Ryan Burns, Kathleen Burns, Madison 
Turley, Peyton Turley, Jack Monger, Emma Monger, Lillian Cox (Pascal Sloman), Ethan Cox, Megan 
Turley, Onyx Turley, and Erin Turley. She is also survived by two great-nephews, Kahlil and Oliver 
Mechtenberg, along with many extended family members who will miss her dearly.

Colleen was preceded in death by her father, James M. Turley.

She had a gentle love for animals, especially birds, and is survived by her two beloved pet birds, 
Jen Jr. and Sam. She enjoyed collecting gnomes, with each one adding a bit of whimsy to her home. 
She enjoyed puzzles, diamond art, coffee and tattoos, which she proudly wore and reflected her warm 
and expressive nature.

Funeral services for Colleen will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Palmer 
Funeral Home – Welsheimer North Chapel, 17033 Cleveland Road, South Bend. Friends may visit with 
the family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made in Colleen's honor to NAMI of St. Joseph County, 
https://namisjc.org/get-involved/donate/ or to Dravet Syndrome Foundation, 
https://dravetfoundation.org/donate/

Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.

Added 01/05/2026 1730 GMS