Colette Mesich, of Odenton, MD, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, February 8, surrounded by her loving family. She was full of adventure, feisty and independent until her last days.

She was born and raised in Chicago to Rudolph and Helen "Gaga" Johnson and attended University of Illinois. After her 1952 marriage to John Mesich the couple transferred to Ft. Worth, TX, where daughter Tracy was born. The family moved back to the Chicago suburbs for several years before they were off to Birmingham, MI. Maryland became the couple's final home, where they resided in Severna Park until John's passing in 2004. Colette relocated to Piney Orchard in Odenton in 2006 where she was very active with the others in her condo and the surrounding buildings.

After working fulltime as a bookkeeper, Colette took up the reigns of the non-profit Millersville 55+ Club. She volunteered as club director for 34 years, retiring just last year with over 900 members in the Club. Colette organized weekly social gatherings, monthly luncheons, and led the group on local day trips, weeklong bus tours and cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, and the Caribbean. Some of her many other volunteer activities included sponsoring midshipmen from the Naval Academy, making nursing home visits with her dog, and serving at the information desk at BWI airport.

She was an avid bridge player, never too busy to play with friends and members of various bridge clubs, sometimes six days a week. Her hard work paid off when Colette achieved status of Ruby Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League. A 40 year member of Chartwell Country Club, Colette enjoyed golf, cards, dining and socializing with her friends and serving on the board of directors.

Colette loved to play all types of games, extra dry gin martinis with a twist, throwing a party, cooking for friends and entertaining. And she certainly loved her family, daughter Tracy Prettyman and husband Ed of Severna Park, granddaughter Briana Prettyman and her fiancé Ben Fach of Columbia and Molly, her "perfect" yorkipoo.

Friends may visit from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday, February 23 at Barranco & Sons, P.A. Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway in Severna Park. A celebration of life takes place at 10:30 AM on Saturday, February 24 at Colette's church, Severna Park United Methodist, 731 Benfield Rd, Severna Park.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Colette's name to Hospice of the Chesapeake Foundation, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122.

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com