Rev. Harold N. Coller peacefully passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday, March 17, 2024. He was born in North Hornell, New York, the 4th child of eight children to George N. and Margaret Coller. He often mentioned he was born the year of the Hornell Flood during the Great Depression.
Rev. Coller received his bachelor's degrees in Theology and Sociology from the School of Theology of Alfred University, while working as a licensed mechanic alongside his father in the family automobile repair business. Upon graduation from college, he began his pastoral career starting with the Baptist Church in Hornell and then as a United Methodist Minister at the Brooks Grove Church which is now in the Genesee Country Museum. From there his career advanced to churches in Dalton, Rushford, Caneadea, Walworth, and Perry, NY, where he retired from full-time ministry. At that time, he began a second career in the banking industry starting with Citizen Bank and retiring from HSBC Bank. His mother had said that he had the “calling” from a young age and this was evident as he continued his ministry on a part-time basis for churches in Sardinia, Johnsonburg, Elba, Covington, and South Byron.
His life was his ministry and service to others which he truly loved performing all of his life. He was a very welcoming and warm person always interested in the well-being of people and what was happening in their lives.
A strong believer in community participation, he was a member of many organizations, including being a member for 60+ years of the Nunda Station Masonic Lodge, Damascus Shriners, Grand Chaplin for the Grand Lodge of New York, former member of the Perry Rotary Club and was a driver for the Perry Ambulance Corps. He was an Honorary Member of the South Byron Volunteer Fire Company in which he recently provided the dinner prayer and benediction for their 48th annual banquet. He was still conducting weddings and other services including officiating his grandson's wedding two years ago.
Rev. Coller had a beautiful singing voice and loved church hymns. He enjoyed reading, especially the newspaper, which he looked forward to each day. He enjoyed countryside drives and attending local car shows with his wife. As for sports, he watched the NASCAR races where he cheered for not a specific driver, only caring that a Chevrolet won the race.
He will be sadly missed by his wife of over 65 years,Ve, his children, Harold (Lori) Coller, Norman Coller and JoAnn Coller, his grandchildren, Paul, Matthew (Sloane) and Shaun (Kaitlin) Coller. He is also survived by his brother, George, brother-in-laws Frank Griffin, Gary (Kathy) Salvagin and Edwin (Bonnie) Salvagin as well as many nieces and nephews and his granddogs, Dani, Charlie, Bear, Alfred and his buddy, Buddy.
Rev. Coller was predeceased by his parents, George and Margaret, his in-laws, Edwin and Alice Salvagin, siblings, Anna, Joyce, Lynn, Lee, Ruth and Jack.
Family and friends may call on Friday, March 22, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the H. E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 403 E. Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020. A private service and burial will be held at the convenience of the family.
The family would like to thank David Kent and family, HomeCare & Hospice, Dr, Nichols and all the staff at UR Medicine Leroy.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Masonic Medical Research Institute, 2150 Bleecher Street, Utica, New York 13501 or Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center 665 Elm Street, Buffalo, NY 14203.
To leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle in his memory please visit www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.
