Obituary of Colleen Marie Boyer

On June 30, 2023 Colleen Marie (Fitzgerald) Boyer, 87, passed away peacefully at Mount Olivet Careview Home in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She had lived with Alzheimer’s disease for the last period of her life. Colleen was born to Edwin “James” Fitzgerald and Wilma (Haysen) Fitzgerald on December 7, 1935, the third of three children. At age 12, Colleen attended her first opera with her friend Julie Nader and this sparked a life-long passion for opera that continued through the last night of her life. Colleen graduated from Peabody High School in 1953 and became a “working girl” at The Kopper’s Company in downtown Pittsburgh. She was hired as a filing clerk and typist (1953) and, using her intelligence and warm personality, continued to move up the ladder to eventually become the assistant advertising/marketing director. She made many lifelong friends at Kopper’s. In 1961, Colleen was named “Miss Pittsburgh Advertising” and later told numerous stories of her escapades (sexist bosses, three-martini lunches) in her real-life version of “Mad Men”. Colleen attended famous Game 7 of the 1960 World Series where her beloved Pittsburgh Pirates won the pennant at Forbes Field; although she met pitcher Leroy Face a week later, her favorite player (and first love) will always be Rightfielder Roberto Clemente (#21).

On July 2, 1965, after a one-year courtship, Colleen married Joseph L. Boyer. The couple wedded in Pittsburgh and Colleen moved to Menominee, Michigan where she started her family. Colleen and Joe had two children together: Michele L. Boyer and Joe L. Boyer III. Colleen also helped raise her two stepsons, Bradley Boyer and Channing Boyer. Colleen always said that “Menominee was a great town to raise children”, and she loved being a mother there while also enjoyed being in the local community theater and playing bridge and golf during these years. Eventually, Colleen and Joe moved to Minneapolis, MN to be near their adult children and to “get back to the big city.” She worked for Thrivent (Lutheran Brotherhood) for 20 years in downtown Minneapolis making many new friends there before her retirement into being a full-time grandma to Evan and Ritu.

Colleen loved being with family, laughing, exploring new ideas, her many dogs, music (opera!), the Pirates, the Packers, and “live” horseracing. Colleen will be remembered for her kind nature, her warm humor, her intelligence, and for her generous, loving spirit.

Colleen is preceded in death by her parents Edwin James and Wilma Fitzgerald, her big brothers Pat and Jimmie, her husband Joseph, her beloved son Joe Junior, her nephew Pat “Paul” Fitzgerald, and by her step-sons Bradley Boyer and Channing Boyer.

Colleen is survived by her daughter Michele Boyer (spouse Melissa Conway) and by grandchildren Janice Boyer (Jay Rutherford) and their children Bradley and Lily; Sarah Boyer; Evan Boyer-Conway; Ritu Boyer-Conway; and god-granddaughter Ellis Gunter. Colleen is survived by her beloved extended Fitzgerald family members Michael & Karen Fitzgerald, Sarah Fitzgerald (Jason Harmon) and son Owen; Eve Fitzgerald and her children Vivian & Mikey; Peggy Fitzgerald; Tanya Fitzgerald (Jeff Rice); Lacey Fitzgerald (Will Dotson) and their son “Fitz”. Colleen is survived by her beloved nieces Monica Fitzgerald Joyce and daughters Devon and Shannon; Erin Fitzgerald (Paul Reilly) and sons Liam and Alex, & Leslie Fitzgerald (Tom Santaguida) and daughter Jessica and nephew Jimmy Fitzgerald Jr. & daughters Elizabeth and Anna.

The Family wishes to give its sincere gratitude to Mount Olivet Careview & Home staff for its excellent care of Colleen during the last years of her life. There will be a memorial service on Saturday, July 15th at 10am at The Chapel at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. Interment there will follow.