Verna Jewel Colella passed away March 7, 2010.

Verna was born Dec. 26, 1915 in Maxwelton to Herbert and Emily Green.

As a child she spent many hours learning the essential skills of life from her beloved grandmother, Ada Mackie. She was also a “beach girl,” playing on the shores and tide flats of Useless Bay with her brothers and friends, a spot that would later become the location of her cherished beach cabin.

After graduating from Langley High School in 1934, Verna left the island for the big city of Seattle where she worked as a nanny, housekeeper and waitress.

Verna’s passion for music and dancing was life-long. As a self-taught musician, playing the piano, organ and ukulele, Verna entertained family and friends at parties and around the beach fire.

It was her love of dancing that brought her together with her husband Carl Colella, who preceded her in death in 1987. They met at a ballroom-dance club in Seattle on a Saturday night and were married in 1940.

In her 40s, she took up Hawaiian dancing “just for the exercise,” but soon began performing with a group for local charity benefits. The group’s biggest stage was the Island County Fair, performing in the Saturday Night Talent Show.

Verna’s love and concern for children led to her involvement with Children’s Hospital in Seattle, helping to organize a local fundraising guild in her Beacon Hill neighborhood and serving as the guild president for over 20 years. After retirement, she applied her organizational skills to one of her favorite social organizations, the Westside Italian Club, where she was involved in many fundraising dinners, organizing bocci tournaments and serving a term as club president.

Verna will be remembered by family and friends as a fabulous cook, preparing holiday meals, Sunday dinners and gourmet feasts with what seemed like relative ease, and often from just what was in the refrigerator and cupboard. She looked forward to family gatherings and keeping in touch with her numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

She is survived by her son Bob; daughter-in-law Jill and three grandchildren, Chris, Lisa and Jenna.

Funeral services were held at St. Hubert Catholic Church in Langley, followed by burial at Bayview Cemetery.