Obituary of Colette A. Gruenwald-Sheward
Colette “CoCo” Gruenwald – Sheward born June 30, 1967, received her angel wings on Wednesday March 28, 2018 after a long, courageous battle with lung cancer, in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
Colette is survived by her estranged husband, Antone D. Sheward, her daughter, Catherine “Katie” Bartolomei; grandchildren Alexus Denise and Jaxon Bentley; parents, Mary (Earl) Dowell; sister, Charmaine Spreitzer, step brother, David (Emily) Dowell and step sister, Debbie (Bruce) Larweth.; foster son, Albert D. Cunningham; foster grandchildren, Dorian and Ezakiel; nieces and nephews Danielle Spreitzer, Robert Dowell, Dakota Branham and Anthony Dowell; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
CoCo had many, many good friends including her two special lifetime friends, Tammy (Pemble) Guess and Brigette (Beaudoin) Sumeraj, the best friends a person could ask for.
Preceded in death by her father, Gary Gruenwald and her grandmother, Dorothy Sukley.
Colette was a lifelong resident of Joliet, Illinois and after numerous jobs, finally found her calling as an Uber driver. She loved life and lived like there was no tomorrow. Her favorite things in life were her grandchildren, McDonald’s coffee (with 4 creams and 4 sugars) and J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans. Coco was a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Will-Grundy) and an advocate for persons who suffer with mental illness. She attended church at Fellowship Church, Mountain Home, Arkansas and Shorewood Church of God, Shorewood, Illinois.
A Memorial Gathering will be held Saturday, April 7, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Roads, Joliet. Inurnment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Joliet. As it was CoCo’s request, please dress casual in jeans and your favorite sports team apparel (no Green Bay Packers) if attending her memorial service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Colette’s name to NAMI Will-Grundy Connection Program, 417 Taylor Street-2nd Flr, Joliet, IL 60435. For more information please call (815) 741-5500 or you may visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com
