Colleen Faye New

Colleen Faye (Castor) New was born May 30, 1953, in South Haven. She went to be with the Lord on June 1, 2013. Her parents were Duane and Constance (Brimhall) Castor, who preceded her in death. Also preceding her were a son, Matthew, twin-brother of Jeremiah.

She grew up in Covert and graduated in 1970 from Covert High School. She attended Aurora University and later received a bachelor's degree in culinary management from Le Cordon Bleu in Phoenix, Ariz., in 2009. She worked for the FBI in Washington, D.C., in the fingerprinting department, for Voice of Music as head advertising and marketing director, served as manager of Covert Park, owned and operated The Personal Touch for 10 years, and was a caregiver and companion to many, including her Uncle Don Castor, who held a special place in her heart. Among her talents and hobbies were seamstressing, quilting, teaching, woodworking, art, poetry, experiencing Lake Michigan, her farm in LeRoy, organic gardening, canning, home remedies and "back-to-the-land" projects.

Surviving are five children: Jessica (Matthew) Smith, Stephanie (Blake) New, Melinda (Robert) Oliva, Benjamin (Chantelle) New and Jeremiah (Krystal) New; 13 grandchildren, plus numerous others she fostered and tutored along the way; sisters: Lauren (Eric) Leidecker and Christine (Robert) Cooper; many nieces, nephews and friends; and her children's father, Steven New.

The service to honor her memory will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Covert Congregational Church, with the Rev. Duane Jones officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family. The family has entrusted the Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford, with arrangements. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at http://www.calvin-leonardfh.com.