The Colleen Celia Fund

On January 15th, 2014, Colleen Celia passed away due to complications during childbirth. She left behind her husband, Paul Celia, her children, Dallas, 14, Adrian, 9 and Jocelyn, 6, and a brand new baby girl, Mya Rose. She was only 32 years old.

Her family and friends are devastated by this tragedy. It was less than a year ago that we were celebrating at their wedding, admiring their hopeful smiles as they embarked on their new life as a family. Paul wasn't just marrying the woman of his dreams, he was committing himself to her children, and the joy on their faces as she walked down the aisle showed us that they loved him too. They were all so happy to be together. They were looking forward to the new baby to complete their loving family. Now Paul is bringing that baby home without Colleen. He is a single father who wants more than anything to keep the children together, in their new house, as Colleen would have wanted.

He needs our help.

They were a two-income household and now they are one. The last thing they should have to worry about is whether they can afford to stay together.

Please give whatever you can to help this family. We cannot ease their grief, or bring back their beautiful wife and mother. But we can help keep the burden of financial hardship from making it worse.

Colleen was a vibrant, ambitious young woman who loved reading and writing poetry, photography, and music. She was a fun-loving and devoted mother to her children. Her smile lit up the room and her laugh was spontaneous and strong, the sort of laugh that turned heads, and made you want to laugh along with her. She was loyal, opinionated and strong. She would have done anything for the people she loved. Help us to honor Colleen's life by giving to the family she worked so hard to bring together.


Born in Brockton, Feb. 21, 1981, a daughter of Joan (Carey) Proffit of Weymouth and Raymond Romero and his wife Barbara (Brockway) Romero of Easton, she was raised and educated in Easton and received an associate's degree from Massasoit Community College in Brockton. Colleen worked as a patient service coordinator for Vanguard Medical of Braintree. She previously worked as a personal trainer for Boston Sports Club. In addition to her husband Paul and her parents, she is survived by her children, Dallas, Adrian, Jocelyn, and her newborn child Mya Rose; her siblings, Bruce, Susan, Nicole, David and the late James; and her paternal grandfather, Ramon Romero of Brockton. She was also the paternal granddaughter of the late Ruth (Otero) Romero and maternal granddaughter of the late Thomas and Helena Carey. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and co-workers.