Charlene Collora

Charlene Patricia (Fulton) Collora

Charlene was born in Portland, Oregon, on July 7, 1948.  She died at home in Seattle surrounded by her family on June 10, 2016, after a valiant battle against stomach cancer.  Charlene was the second oldest of ten children born to Pat and Betty Fulton. She attended St. Mary’s Academy for high school, then joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps which led her up to St. Mary’s, Alaska, where she ran the school library, and met her future husband, Charlie.  Charlene and Charlie were married in the summer of 1971.  They moved first to Portland, then Tacoma, eventually landing in Seattle as founding members of the Round Table Community, a group of former Jesuit Volunteers who continued to live together in community.  They raised their five children on Capitol Hill, where they were members of St. Joseph’s parish.

In 1982, Charlene was pivotal as the home office liaison for the Bethlehem Peace Pilgrimage, a 6,500 mile walk through eleven countries as a prayer for peace.  Charlene held the role of Pastoral Coordinator at Our Lady of Mt. Virgin in South Seattle for 22 years before retiring.  She returned to finish her bachelor’s degree at Seattle University after her kids were grown, then continued on to earn her master’s degree in Religious Studies and to become a certified Spiritual Director. In retirement, she worked for the Ignatian Spirituality Center and found great satisfaction as a marriage preparation counselor at St. Anne’s Catholic Church. Her commitment to Native American social justice causes had led her to many years of volunteering at the Chief Seattle Club.   

She loved traveling with Charlie, spending time at Hood Canal with her family, reading books, and truly enjoying life to the fullest.  One of her most cherished roles was being the beloved Nana to her four young grandchildren.  They already miss her and the chocolate chip pancakes that Nana made best.

Charlene is survived by her husband of 45 years, Charlie, her children Andrew (Melissa), Alicia (Brian), Nicole (John), Mariette, and Jeanne, her grandchildren Noah, Balin, Nina, and Caroline, her siblings Will (Diane), Chuckie, Mary (Chuck), Leslie (Bill), Joe (Debra), Dan (Beth), Bob (Lauren), and Fred (Rose); as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Pat and Betty Fulton and her youngest brother, Tom.

Her funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, June 18th at 11am at St. Anne’s Church.  The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Chief Seattle Club.