Colette Laure Snell, 95

Colette Laure Snell, 95, of Lakeland, Florida passed away peacefully on August 4, 2021.

She was the daughter of the late Patrick and the late Irene Loughlin and sister of the late Peter (Irmhild) Loughlin. She was a devoted Air Force wife to her late husband Eugene W. Snell and beloved mother to her two sons Drew (Robin) and Kenny (Barbara) Snell who survive her. She loved beautiful flowers, animals – particularly elephants, and all natural beauty.

She was born in France and raised in England where as a young woman living in London during World War II she and her widowed mother survived exploding V-1 and V-2 rockets launched into the city by Nazis. She spoke fluent French and English and met Eugene Snell her husband-to-be, while she was working for the American government at Rhein-Main U.S. Air Force Base in Germany.

Aside from her two sons, she is also survived by granddaughter Kayla Marie Snell, grandson Kasey Powell, great grandson Kade Powell all of Lakeland, and her cousin Colette McClatchie of Dublin, Ireland. Surviving nieces include Patti (Chuck) Lennox, Cathy (Bob) Hansen, and Carole (Greg) Eigsti of Denver, Colorado, Kim (Andrew) Gilham and Kay Tulett of Great Britain, and Susan (Ken) Barker of Lakeland. Surviving nephews include James (Martha) Snell of Washington, Steve Snell of Denver, and Mike and Dan (Jan) Snell of Lakeland.

Funeral mass will be held at Church of the Resurrection in Lakeland on Saturday August 7th at 10:30 a.m.. Condolences may be sent to the family at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes.