Known for her spaghetti dinner and famous brownies
READING — Penelope A. (Smith) Colburne, 96, of Reading, formerly of North Reading and East Boston, passed away on Friday, December 13, 2024 at the High Pointe House in Haverhill. She was the beloved wife of the late Ronald D. Colburne, Sr.
Born in Boston on May 3, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Robert C. and Margaret V. (Coughlin) Smith. She was a graduate of East Boston High School, Class of 1946.
Penelope grew up in East Boston with her late sisters Helen M. Potter and Natalie V. McCarthy. She vacationed in North Reading where she met the love of her life, Ron. They were happily married and lived on Martins Pond for just shy of 50 years. She was a school bus driver for C&W Transportation for 12 years and retired from Compugraphic in 1994 where she worked for 17 years.
Her home was always open to all whether it was someone who needed a place to stay or just a meal. She baked for everyone and was well known for her spaghetti dinners and famous for her brownies.
She will be missed by her loving family who have many happy memories of summers spent at their beloved Lanes End on Lake Winnipesaukee. She had been a resident of Reading for the past 15 years and was a member of St. Theresa’s Church in North Reading.
Family members include her loving son, Ronald D. Colburne, Jr. and his wife Susan of North Reading; her daughters, Pennianne Mullarky and her husband Dana of Methuen; Pamela Colburne and her husband Mark Bossard of Bradenton, Florida; and Priscilla Colburne and her fiancé Patrick Messer of Pineview, Georgia; three grandchildren, Ryan Mullarky, Courtney DelMonico and Ross Colburne; two great-grandchildren, Tyler LeBaron and Baylee DelMonico; and two very special nieces, Peggy Donaher and Betsy McCarthy.
Her funeral was held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St. on Wednesday, December 18 beginning at 9:15 a.m. followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St., North Reading. Calling hours were held on Tuesday, December 17 from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment was in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations were made in her memory to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231. To leave an online message of condolence, visit croswellfuneralhome.com.
