MOHAWK - With greatest sorrow, our family announces the passing of our kind, brave, caring and unimaginably generous wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend, Vanessa Jane Colon, on Monday, March 13, 2023. Born in Utica, New York, on April 29, 1984, she was the daughter of Luis and Rebecque (Burch) Colon. Her heroic life journey included full education, graduating from Mohawk High School, Herkimer County Community College and Utica University. This schooling led her to a very special career in social work, based out of ICAN, in Herkimer. To so many of us she lovingly dubbed the nicknames “Nessa Nae,” and “Vani.” Vanessa was free spirited, with a rebel’s heart made of solid gold. She was always up, for an adventure and had many spur of the moment escapades with her closest friends and family. Vanessa was also a fearless protector of anyone she called a friend, often times springing to action, without even thinking, when a friend was in need. Above all, Vanessa was a mother and wife and cherished nothing more than her family. She loved her baby boy Lucas Colon more than anything, of whom she raised with her loving husband, Erik Colon. Vanessa leaves behind her adoring family, her husband, Erik Colon; her son, Lucas Colon; her parents, Luis And Rebecque Colon; her grandparents, Jacqulyn Burch and George Burch; her brothers, Brian Burch Colon, Luis Colon and Jesse Colon; her nephew, Giovani Colon; her niece, Jayden Hawkins; her special aunt, with whom she was extremely close with, Brenna Kosicki and her children Brandon and Juliette; her uncles, Jose and Eva Colon, of Puerto Rico, Luis Manuel Colon, of Puerto Rico, Joacquin Colon, of Ilion, Keith and Cheryl Burch, of Taberg and Kevin Burch, of Rome, NY; her cousins, EvaLynette Colon (Alex), of Pennsylvania, Celinet Colon, of Puerto Rico, Anthony Colon, of Texas, Keith Burch, of Florida, Cassandra Palumbo, of Rome and Rachael and Brianna Kosicki, of Connecticut; and her In-laws, Lisa (Tyler) Sargent and Genny Hawkins. Above all, she leaves all the huge and wonderful Colon family, including Kathy Colon and her children, as well as many more aunts, uncles and cousins, of Utica, NY. Her extended family is inclusive to Vicky Rojas, Angelyce Rojas, Dana Alomar, Toni Aubain and her Children, and Katrina Lazore and her children. Vanessa has so many wonderful friends inclusive to Aimee Champion, Hilary Lesniak and Julie Sassone, and of course so many more special friends, including Jenn Ham. We all know who we are!! Vanessa was preceded by her paternal grandparents, Celia Colon Gonzalez and Luis Colon Delgado; her uncles, Brian Kosicki and Josie Colon; her cousins, Papo Colon, Nego Colon, Candido Noti; and her special friend, Marie Saldado. The family will honor Vanessa with the most special tribute of calling hours, on Sunday, March 19, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at the Enea & Ciaccia Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Road, in Ilion, NY and at 8:00 p.m., we will conclude the evening with a Prayer Funeral Service, led by Deacon Jim Bower. Entombment will take place on Monday, March 20, 2023, at the convenience of her family, at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum, Utica (upper building). A very special thank you to all for guiding our family through this most tragic loss in our lives. Our family and friends presence is a huge comfort and will never be forgotten. Our love to you always. We will all meet again soon, closer to Vanessa’s birthday, around Saturday, April 29, 2023, to celebrate Vanessa’s life.