Mr. John Edmond Colona, a resident of Bourne, Mass., passed away April 5, 2022, following a period of declining health. He was born April 28, 1939, in Cape Charles, son of the late John E. and Elizabeth White Colona.
After graduating from Cape Charles High School, John received his bachelor of music education in 1961 from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Va. He began his 21-year teaching career in his hometown of Cape Charles. In 1966, John accepted a choral music teaching position in Wilmington, Vt., and it was there that he met his wife, Nancy Fellows. They were married in July of 1979. They moved to Cape Cod, Mass., in 1982, and John became the manager of Eldred Wheeler in Osterville, Mass., which combined his love of antiques and fine reproduction furniture. He later owned and operated Le Fort Furniture. After his retirement, John returned to his education roots and enjoyed substitute teaching in Sandwich Public Schools.
John is survived by his wife, Nancy; son, Benjamin (Erica Canada), of Killington, Vt.; daughter, Emily (Ariol Sharka), of Boston; and his two beloved granddaughters, Ryland Colona and Eleanor Sharka. He is also survived by his sister, Bonnie Colona Travis (Robert), niece, Elizabeth Griffith, and nephews, Robert Bryan Travis and John Barry Travis, all of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. In addition, he is survived by an aunt, Oneita White Burton, and an uncle, Gary White, of Florida. John is predeceased by his half-sister, Anne Colona Rouce, stepsister, Joanne Sims Newcomb, and stepbrother, Stephen Sims.
Besides his children and grandchildren, John enjoyed classical music, skiing, the beach, sailing, his cats, and driving his classic ’82 Corvette. He was known by all as a smartly dressed, true Virginia gentleman who never lost his southern drawl.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Childhood Leukemia Foundation, P.O. Box 21069, Lansing, MI 48909-1069.
