Mrs Colette Bryce

A COMPASSIONATE nurse, skilled sportswoman and wonderfully loving wife and mother, Colette Bryce truly was one of a kind. 

Colette sadly passed away on October 28, aged 65, after a short illness. Her death has left a huge hole in the lives of her friends and family, but they will smile, laugh and love on, just as Colette would have wanted.

Colette was born in Shrigley in 1950. The middle child of ten siblings, nine of which were boys, Colette learnt how to hold her own from day one. Her jet black hair earned her the name of ‘Coke’ from her daddy, and as a child, people would see a flash of black climbing a tree or jumping a fence. 

Colette was a natural sportswoman from an early age and as a teenager she was a camogie champion at her school in Crossgar. Colette never shied away from a challenge, and was a fearless competitor.

Steely but with a heart of gold and a sense of humour to brighten the gloomiest day, it was no surprise to anyone that Colette would be drawn to the nursing profession at the age of 17. 

Colette started her career at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, first in Paediatrics, then in General. Colette cared for her patients during a very turbulent time in Belfast at the height of the Troubles and it was clear to see from the start that she had the makings of an excellent nurse. 

It was during this time that Colette met Gerard when they were both 19 at a dance in Ardglass. This led to 42 years of marriage, full of plenty of laughs and love and the occasional row, which Colette always won. 

During their marriage, Colette and Gerard brought three children into the world in their countryside haven in Ballee; firstly, their big son Sean, followed by Conor and a little daughter in Carmen. 

Shortly after she was married, Colette started work in Downe Hospital. She was thought of with the highest respect by her fellow nurses and adored by the people of all ages that she cared for attentively. 

Her children will tell you that Colette was a wonderful mother, filling their lives full of memories and adventures that some can only dream of. 

Colette was a favourite aunt among her many nieces and nephews. She was always the life and soul of the party. As one of her nieces recently said, when you arrived at a party, Auntie Colette was always the one you’d seek out to sit beside. 

Colette was devoted to her grandchildren. She longed dearly for a grandchild and her wish was fulfilled in Clodagh, Eben and Shane. She took to her grandmother role with her usual tenacity. She was always readily available to help out with their care and adored looking after them. It’s clear to see in their cleverness and wit at even a young age, that Colette very much lives on in them. 

Colette was a gifted mimic, with a sharp wit, and regularly kept audiences enthralled and in stitches at parties and get-together. 

It was after Colette had Carmen that she decided to give Gerard a run for his money on the golf course. Colette’s natural sporting ability came back into play, and she took to golf like a duck to water. She was respected by golfers far and wide. She won many a competition and many a lifelong friend at St Patrick’s Golf Club, Downpatrick. 

A keen bowler, both indoor and outdoor, Colette took to the sport and excelled — just as she had previously done with golf and camogie. 

Because of her training as a nurse, Colette knew before anyone how serious her condition was, but bravely kept it to herself for as long as she could and stayed positive through it all. 

Due to her enduring strength of character, Colette bore her illness with great bravery in a dignified and selfless manner. To know that her family was by her side was all that Colette wanted at the end of her life. 

During her illness, Colette’s immediate family experienced such care and devotion from the nurses, which reminded them of how good a nurse Colette had been herself. 

While in the Downe Hospital, her room was never empty, with former colleagues calling in to give her a hug and have a chat. 

Colette never turned her back on anybody. She was fiercely loyal and would go above and beyond for anyone who needed her help. Colette was so content in herself that she never wanted for any material goods and never liked a fuss being made of her. 

A few years ago, Colette severely injured her arm. After a lengthy healing process with a lot of surgery and painful physiotherapy, she was told she would never golf again. 

A handful of months later, not only had she picked up her clubs and started playing, but against all odds she’d won her second Lady Captain’s Day at Patrick’s.

That was Colette in a nutshell. She never let anyone tell her what she could or couldn’t do. She never listened to that voice of doubt that holds so many of us back. She never let anything stop her moving forward, get her down, or distract her from the task at hand. 

She lived her life to the fullest. Her tenacity, courage and drive made her colleagues respect her greatly. It made her friends love her dearly. And it made her family fiercely proud of her.

For anyone who knew Colette; be it a colleague, a friend, or a family member, they were all honoured to have known such a spirited, funny, determined, positive, loving woman. A unique soul who’ll be in our hearts forever. 

Close your eyes and cry because she’s gone. But please smile when you remember her. Smile, then open your eyes, love, and go on. Because that’s what she’d want.

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