Carmen "Taty" Collazo Favale

Carmen “Taty” Collazo Favale peacefully passed away on November 25th 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on April 15th, 1930 in Ciales, Puerto Rico. Taty was preceded in death by her parents, Ernesto Collazo and Carmen Ocasio Collazo, and siblings Victor, Ernesto, and Ramon “Piru”.

She is survived by siblings Guillermo, Roberto, and Violeta, loving husband Constantino “Tino” Favale, children Janet King (Will), Yvonne Frederick, Ernie Favale (Dixie), Alfonso Favale (Doris), grandchildren Jennifer, Matthew (Jess), Loren, Dante (Sara), Rebecca, Tyler (Rachel), Alyssa, Langlee (Rob), Liana, Jordyn, and great grandchildren Colton, Meadow, Ella, Charlee, Brandon, Jayson, and Atlee.

Taty graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a degree in education and taught elementary school for many years in her hometown of Ciales. At the University of Puerto Rico, she was swept off her feet by her dashing future husband Tino. They married five years later as Tino began his career in the US Army. Together, they were stationed stateside and overseas during 67 joy-filled years of marriage.

In addition to raising four children, she worked and volunteered at Fort Lee in various services. Taty is lovingly remembered as a great housewife, providing guidance and love to all.  She was the glue that held the family together and made all strangers feel like family, giving them the same love. She was a humble and devout Catholic.

She had many hobbies, and loved DIY projects which exercised her creativity. She loved to sew, especially for her family, and to cook, paint, dance, and sing. She loved playing cards (and playing jokes). She loved Puerto Rican traditions—parrandas, cooking pastelillos, and especially coquito (Puerto Rican eggnog). During holidays, her kitchen was always full of great food, laughter, and music, while she danced, sang and cooked. We will always remember her zest of life and her calm demeanor.  “Calma, Calma” was her message as we all tried to anxiously get her and us to where we were going.

The family is especially grateful to the caring staff at the At Home Care Hospice in Colonial Heights, with special thanks to Joanie and Karin.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 in St. Ann Catholic Church, 17111 Jefferson Davis Highway, Colonial Heights, VA 23834, with Father Ernest Bulinda officiating.  Interment will follow in Southlawn Memorial Park, S. Prince George, Virginia.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dementia Society of America, https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate  or to a charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory, 2033 Boulevard. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.