Obituary of Vincent Colant

Vincent `Vince' Papa' Colant Vincent `Vince' Papa Colant, 81, passed away peacefully due to complications of liver cancer at Hospice Care in Palm Coast, Fla. Monday, March 17, 2014, surrounded by his family. Vince was born on Clover Street in Akron on the 4th of July, 1932 to Mario and Providenza (Bonde) Colant. He was an Akron and Green resident for 77 years before moving to Palm Coast, Fla. He graduated from St. Vincent High School and was a dedicated postal worker, retiring with over 40 years of service, and after retirement served as a van driver for the Akron Public Schools. He was a member of Queen of Heaven Church in Green where he served as an Usher and Eucharistic Minister and was a member of the Holy Name Society. He was also a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Palm Coast, Fla., where he faithfully attended the Monday Holy Hour. He was a member of KofC Council 3410. He was a veteran of the Army and served during the Korean War in the 1st Calvary Division in the Ski Rifle Patrol Unit in Okada, Japan. Vince will be remembered as an active participant with the St. Vincent-St. Mary High School Booster Club and was a 1997 recipient of The Fr. Thomas Mahar Award given to outstanding alumni who exemplify the spirit and value of secondary education. He was extremely generous with his time in helping others throughout his life and enjoyed spending free time with his grandchildren, walking along the ocean with his dogs, gardening and traveling. He will be forever remembered as a loyal, generous, respectful, and thoughtful husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend. Vince leaves behind, his wife, Shirley Colant of 15 years; sons, Michael (Lisa), Thomas (Jolene), Joseph (Darnelle) Colant; daughters, Karen (Michael) Monaghan, Rosanne Frangos and Mary (Michael) Storad; sister, Joanne (Jim) Ballway; step-children, Rachel Laparo and Rick Laparo; father and mother-in-law, Kenneth and Ruth Taylor; in-laws, Barbara (Kasmer) Jefferies, Rebecca (William) Waicukewith, Alvin Webb, Anita Colant, Margaret Colant, Gerry Boal, Thomas Hafler and John (Georgia) Boal; 18 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. Vince was preceded in death by his wife and the mother of his children, Elizabeth (Boal) Colant; his brothers, Anthony and Joseph; his sister, Judy; sister-in-law, Donna; and brothers-in-law, Edward, Christopher and James Boal. The family will receive friends Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m. at Anthony Funeral Home, 1990 S. Main St., Akron, where a joint Holy Name and K of C Rosary will be recited at 4:45 p.m. Funeral services begin Monday, 10:15 a.m. at the funeral home and will be followed at 11 a.m. with the celebration of a Mass of Christian Burial at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 1800 Steese Rd., Uniontown (Green), OH 44685. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery where Military Honors will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to HospiceCare at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center, 301 Memorial Medical Pkwy., Daytona Beach, FL 32117 or to St. Vincent-St. Mary Booster Club c/o St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, 15 North Maple Street, Akron, Ohio 44303. (Anthony, Akron, 330-724-1281, anthonyfh.com)