Elizabeth Collazo

Elizabeth Collazo, 84 of Orlando, Florida, formerly of Youngstown, died Saturday. Sept. 22, 2012. Born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico on October 15, 1927; she was the third daughter of fourteen children born to Salomon Sein and Margarita Rodriguez. Elizabeth was best known as “Chava” because she was “chavona” and was raised in Aibonito in the family’s hacienda. Elizabeth would come home from school before lunch, was put on top of a huge tin can because she was short and would cook lunch for the hired help and became a great cook. She learned to sew and embroider; anyone who wanted to wear the latest fashion would have her sew for them. Her love for poetry gave pleasure to many during her recital performances. In 1954 Elizabeth moved to New York and met Cruz Collazo on a Tuesday evening mission service. Cruz Collazo fell in love while listening to her recite the poem “Blanchos son los Campos.” Five and a half months later they were married on August 28, 1954 and soon thereafter accepted the pastorate of the Damascus Christian Church in Brooklyn, New York. During the many years of pastoral ministry in four different churches, Elizabeth was the prayer warrior who constantly lifted her husbands ministry to the thrown of God’s grace. She was active with the Missionetts, Woman’s Ministry, drama, visitation and extended hospitality to missionaries and ministers. Above all, Elizabeth’s greatest ministry was to her husband, daughters and grandchildren. Elizabeth was the Proverbs 31 women. She leaves a legacy of five Christian daughters who learned how to pray, manage a home and live in wisdom. Elizabeth taught her daughters how to worship under all circumstances. Her daughters grew up observing their mother love her husband and he loved her in return. She loved to kiss her husband and even battling Alzheimer’s she would pucker up when she had a lucid moment to kiss her husband and sing to him “Besame Mucho”. For eighteen years they had lunch at “Chick-fil-A every Monday. On August 28, 2012 they celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. Elizabeth is survived by her husband, Cruz Collazo, daughters Vivian Collazo, Migdalia Collazo, Mildred Bonilla, Nidia Molina, and Dorcas Collazo-Lopez, son-in-law Jose Lopez and William Molina., eight grandchildren, six great grandchildren and nine siblings. A Celebration of her life will be held at 7pm on Tuesday September 25, 2012. At the Living Word Church in Orlando. The family will receive friends from 6pm until service time. Entombment will be at 10am on Wednesday in the Chapel of Light Mausoleum in The Osceola Memory Gardens in Kissimmee. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory can be made to: Alzheimer’s Association 378 Center Pointe Circle Suite 1280 Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701 or Aged Ministers Assistance 1445 N Boonville Avenue Springfield, MO 65802. Arrangements under the direction of OSCEOLA MEMORY GARDENS CEMETERY FUNERAL HOME and CREMATORY 1717 Old Boggy Creek Rd. Kissimmee, Fla. 34744 www.osceolamemgds.com

Elizabeth Collazo

October 15, 1927 - September 22, 2012