Colleen Sue Hernden, 71, of 2357 Coldstream Ave. N.E. , died peacefully, Saturday, March 13, 2010 at home from cancer, surrounded by her loving family and friends. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, March 18, 2010 at Brosh Chapel, 2121 Bowling St. S.W. , with Pastor Reginald Daniel of Daniels Park Church of God, Cedar Rapids , and Pastor Ed Kraft officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids . Inurnment will be at a later date at Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa.

Colleen was born April 27, 1938, in Council Bluffs , the oldest child of Orval "Joe" and Berniece Aden Brager. Her family moved to Oskaloosa in 1948 where she graduated from high school in 1956. She married Jerry Stephen in 1956. She later moved to Cedar Rapids and married James "Jim" Hernden on March 11, 1964 .

Colleen was a talented singer, guitar player and song writer, composing songs that helped her and others deal with the struggles of being a Christian. She led the music ministry at Daniels Park Church of God and also shared her talents with care center residents. Colleen was a letter writer, with pen pals since her teenage years. She coordinated the card ministry at her church and was a faithful daily letter writer to her mother until mid-January when she became ill. She was a certified day care provider for many years, providing loving care to others' children and grandchildren in her home.

Colleen is survived by her husband of 46 years, James "Jim" of Cedar Rapids; sons James Jr. (Judi) Hernden, Jerold Hernden, Dennis (Donna) Stephen, Todd (Julia Ann) Stephen; daughter, Sharon Hernden, all of Cedar Rapids; her mother, Berniece Brager of Oskaloosa; two sisters, Joan (Bill) Denny of Cedar Rapids, and Jane ( Jim) Reynolds of Clear Lake; one brother, Phyl (Lona) Brager of Oskaloosa; grandchildren, Denvir, Calvin, Sky, Rivers, Christopher, Shiloh, Autumn, Joshua, Amanda, Aaron, Chereese, Alibbia, Velera, Courtney, Sierra and David; and many great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father and her grandparents.

Memorials may be directed to the family, or to Daniels Park Church of God in Cedar Rapids .