Monica Colella 1977 - 2021

COLELLA, FOSTER, LITTLE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/17/2021 at 13:09:30

Sioux City Journal
20 January 2021

Monica Colella

Sioux City -- Monica peacefully left this world on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Sioux City due to anal cancer; she was 43 years old.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel with the family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Nativity Catholic Church with a full Mass followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery.

Monica was born in Sioux City on March 4, 1977, to the most loving parents, Jim and Karen Foster. Jim and Karen shared 35 years of marital bliss before Jim’s passing in 2012. Karen then passed in 2017. Monica graduated from North High School in 1995 and although she moved to the Morningside area in 2017, in which her children attended Morningside classes, she stayed true to the “51104.”

She held many roles at Argosy Casino during her 11 years there, and it was during that time that she decided it was time to go back to school. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life working the casino lifestyle, so she attended and graduated from Western Iowa Tech Community College with her associate degree in paralegal studies. It wasn’t easy for her; she was raising a family of three children with her husband, continuing to work at Argosy full-time, while attending full-time classes. But, one of her best characteristics was dedication, so she wasn’t going to give up. Graduation day was a great celebration and accomplishment in Monica’s life that led her to a very successful career in the legal world.

Monica was lucky to have met the love of her life, Matt, and the two were married on Aug. 1, 2003; they have loved and cherished every moment of their life together, whether big or small. Monica had been planning a vow renewal for Aug. 29, 2020, but due to COVID-19, unfortunately, the vow renewal had to be canceled. A lot of the decorations at her visitation and funeral are pieces that she put together on her own that were to be used at the vow renewal.

Some of the few things that Monica enjoyed during her spare time were serving as president of Foster the CURE and volunteering as an advocate for children through the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. She most recently had to step down from but loved being president of PowHer Networking Group. Giving back to the Siouxland community is something she always loved being a part of and couldn’t wait to do more of it. Monica was also a gestational carrier for a deserving couple in 2009 and gave them the greatest gift, a baby of their own. Because of this selfless act, Monica will be a lifetime blessing to this family who had cherished her and remained in contact up until her passing.

She is survived by her husband, Matt Colella; children, Issaiah Reyes, Foster Colella, and Mia Colella (all living at home); siblings, Brandi (Jeffery) Duerksen of Sioux City, Kristin (John) Casotti of Sioux City, and Jamie (Deana) Foster of Altoona; many nieces and nephews; her in-laws, Matt’s parents Bob (step-father) and Cathy Skarin of Sioux City, Matt’s parents Al and Terrie (step-mother) Colella of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; grandpa-in-law, Jack Baker of Sioux City; and many siblings-in-law.

Monica was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Karen Foster of Sioux City; grandparents, Russell and Mary Lou Little of Sioux City, and Richard and Virginia Foster of Des Moines; and grandma-in-law, Mary Jo Baker of Sioux City.

There was nothing more Monica cherished than her family; the countless, wonderful memories she has provided to all of us will be kept near and dear to our hearts until we meet again.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Baker, Sean Finnegan, Erich Westrich, Aaron Gehling, Wayne Pruchniak, Anthony Osborn, and Jeremy Craighead.