Obituary of Colette Rebillard Gillett

Colette Rebillard Gillett who resided in North Dallas Texas passed away peacefully on July 9. 2023 at the age of 86. She remained fiercely independent and showed true grit during her illness.

Colette was born June 18, 1937 in Moulins Allier France to parents Hubert Rebillard and Berthe Francine Charbonnier Rebillard.

She Married David Louis Gillett, June 16 1956, who was serving in the USAF in France. They went on to have two children, Eddie Noel Gillett, born in Chateauroux, France and Audrey Gillett, born in La Rochelle, France.

While married to David Gillett, who was in the USAF, she and her family lived in many places, which include Niagara Falls, New York, Providence, Rhode island, Tampa, Florida, back to France in 1965, then England, Vacaville, California., and finally, Del Rio, Texas, while David served in Viet Nam for 2 tours.

She learned English on her own, as well Studied Art from a renown Metropolitan art institute. She never stopped doing her oil and water color paintings.

Colette became a US Citizen in St. Petersburg Florida on June 18, 1965.

Colette lived in Del Rio from 1969 to 1997. While in Del Rio she was involved with The Art League, she even found herself riding horseback assisting some friends on their sheep ranch during the roundups.

She was baptized January 15, 1974 in San Antonio Tx as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and remained active in the ministry the rest of her life.

Colette and David divorced on Dec.6, 1983. She married Michael Thomas Viggato on April 16, 1985. The date of their divorce is Feb. 15, 1999.

She learned to drive and got her drivers license allowing her much independence and allowed her to spend more time in her ministry. When not in the ministry she was painting with oils and water colors.

In 1997 Collette moved to North Dallas, Texas, to be near Her son, Eddie Gillet and daughter, Audrey Gillett.

Colette continued her ministry serving with the French group of Jehovah’s Witness located at the Bedford Kingdom Hall, consisting mostly of refugees from French speaking areas of Africa. She was instrumental in supporting the group searching for French speaking individuals seeking to learn the Bible. The group soon became a congregation which became the Dallas Love Field congregation. Later the congregation became to Rock Island Congregation.

She also became an avid photographer of wildlife in her favorite parks such as Arber Hills Nature Preserve and Voss Hills Park.

Many of her photos soon became oil and water paintings one of which she was working on when she passed.

Colette is survived by her Son, Eddie Gillett of Fort Worth and Daughter, Audrey Gillett of Plano.

She is also survived by two grand children, Bryan Owen Gillett and Amanda Renee Goode, and by 6 great grand children, Brenden Owen Lamb, Brandi Alexsis Lamb, Lexibloom Henton, Christian David Owen Gillett, Blakley Olivia Gillett, and Barron Bradly Gillett.

Her memorial service will be at the Rock Island Kingdom Hall located at 2804 Rock Island Rd. Irving Texas 75060 on August 19, 2023 at 1pm.

Zoom will also be provided.