Colleen Wishall

On July 27, 2026, Colleen Grace Wishall went to her eternal rest to be with the Lord. She courageously, and with deep faith, battled a Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (PNET, a rare form of pancreatic cancer) for almost 19 months after being diagnosed on New Year’s Day 2025.

Despite her dire prognosis, she lived life to the fullest and devoted herself to her husband and children, not focusing on her pain and weakness, but doing all she could to be an active wife and mother. Colleen suffered much in silence, not wanting it to impact the love she gave to so many or to get in the way of enjoying life with the people she loved. She attended her children’s school activities at Regina Pacis Academy, brought them to the park and nature centers as much as possible, and went on trips with Jeremy and the children to such places as the Padre Pio Shrine in Pennsylvania, Legoland in New York, Fenway Park in Boston, and to York Beach, Maine for the annual Spilka family vacation. In January of this year, she and Jeremy even journeyed to the Blessed Solanus Casey Center in Detroit.

Colleen attended St. Stephen’s School in Hamden and graduated from Hamden High School. In her senior year, her teachers selected her as the Student of the Year. At the School, she ran track and cross country, played basketball, and participated in multiple extracurricular activities. She was captain of the cross-country team, and her athleticism in track and cross country resulted in a track scholarship to Holy Cross College where she also captained the cross-country team. She graduated from Holy Cross with honors with a B.A. in Psychology and later obtained a master’s degree in Public Health from City College of New York.

While living in Brooklyn, N.Y., she met her future husband Jeremy through the Frassati Fellowship. They discovered early on that they had similar interests and began enjoying spending time together hiking, exploring craft beers (and attempting home brewing!), and exploring the city. It did not take long for them to fall in love. After several months dating, they got engaged and were married in 2014 at Queen of All Saints Church in Brooklyn. The following year they were blessed with their first child Hannah. Thereafter, they moved to Stamford and over the next several years welcomed Daniel, Luke, and Ava Marie. Colleen made every effort to share her Catholic faith with her children and to bring them into a relationship with the Lord. She treasured each child’s uniqueness.

Colleen prayed for everyone who had a need and she was a light in the darkness to those who came across her path. All throughout her illness she never despaired but trusted God’s perfect plan for her and her family. Like St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians, she had the same attitude. She desired to live and serve the Lord on earth for as long as possible but also looked forward to departing this world to be with Christ. Phil. 1:20-26.

As a member of Holy Spirit Church, she was blessed with a Parish family that she dearly loved as much as they loved her, and was blessed with a wonderful pastor, Fr. Luke Suarez. They continuously supported her throughout her illness in so many ways. She appreciated the opportunity Fr. Suarez gave her to periodically share reflections on her faith in the Sunday Parish Bulletin.

As a member of the Regina Pacis Academy community, she was further blessed by the families who knew her. She loved being at the Academy and seeing her children and all the students mature academically, but more important spiritually.

Colleen is survived by her husband Jeremy and their four children Hannah, Daniel, Luke, and Ava Marie; her parents, John and Sheila Spilka; her siblings and their spouses Peter and Rosa Spilka, Erin and Leonardo Roman, Matthew and Olivia Spilka; her father-in-law Mike Wishall and mother-in-law Beth Wishall; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and their spouses

Rose Wishall Ediger and Dave Ediger, Paul and Stacey Wishall, Sarah Wishall, Anna Wishall Munson and Ben Munson, Matthew and Meghan Wishall, Emily Wishall; and fourteen nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.

For those that knew Colleen well, an apt description of her character can be found in the Book of Proverbs:

“She is clothed with strength and dignity,

and laughs at the days to come.

She opens her mouth in wisdom;

Kindly instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband, too, praises her:

Many are the women of proven worth,

But you have excelled them all.

Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;

The woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Acclaim her for the work of her hands,

and let her deeds praise her at the city gates.”

Prov. 31:25-31

To all the Prayer Warriors in the wider body of Christ throughout the world who fervently prayed for Colleen Grace, the Wishall and Spilka families, thank you from the depths of our hearts. In addition, to all those who have faithfully provided meals, child care, transportation for the children and Colleen, babysitting, friendship, and in so many other ways met the needs of Colleen and her family, we are equally grateful.

If there were something Colleen would most want to be remembered by, it would be of her steadfast faith and intense love for her family and friends.

Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home on Friday, July 31, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm; 104 Myrtle Ave, Stamford, CT 06902.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 1, at 10:00 am at the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist, 279 Atlantic St, Stamford, CT 06901. Interment will immediately follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery, 111 Rock Rimmon Rd, Stamford, CT 06903.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal at www.franciscanfriars.com/donate or to the Sisters of Life at www.sistersoflife.org/donate.