Obituary of Colleen M. Bannister

Colleen M. Bannister, age 52 of Drexel Hill, formerly of Aldan and Upper Darby passed away on October 23, 2018. She is predeceased by her husband Frank Bannister, and parents Thomas and Miriam Sullivan. Survivors: Loving mother of Amy and Jessica Bannister, dear sister of Valerie, Linda (Kevin), Julie (Michael), Mark (Andrea), and Nile (Barb), and many nieces and nephews. Though Colleen was born in Darby, she attended two years of elementary school in Germany when her family moved to Frankfort for a few years. Upon returning to the States, Colleen was raised in Aldan and graduated from Penn Wood High School in 1984. Colleen subsequently was a student at West Chester University. As a young adult, she developed a deep love of music while attending many concerts with siblings and friends. Billy Joel was a longtime favorite, and she learned to play a few of his songs on the piano. She retired after working as a bookkeeper at Keller, Lisgar, & Williams law firm for many years. Her colleagues remember her as being kind and always willing to share her home grown produce with the office. Colleen was an avid gardener who grew a variety of vegetables, ranging from tomatoes and green beans to onions and ground cherries. She loved to cook and you could often find her in the kitchen experimenting with savory new recipes or baking decadent desserts. There was seldom a day where something from her garden did not make it to the dinner table or to a family party in a unique, creative dish. Colleen and her husband loved the outdoors. Many summer vacations were spent camping, hiking, and kayaking in the many state parks that they visited. Still, when they weren't able to get away, Darby Creek was just around the corner. They would devote their evenings to fishing for trout, visiting the Lower Swedish Cabin, or taking a leisurely walk along the creek bed. Colleen will be dearly missed by all. Visitation will be held from 10am-12pm on Saturday November 10th at McCausland Garrity Marchesani Funeral Home, 343 S. Chester Pike, Glenolden, PA 19036, and will be followed by a memorial service. Internment: Private In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to: Darby Creek Valley Association P.O. Box 732 Drexel Hill, PA 19026