OBITUARY: Jolanta ‘Yogi’ Collins, 72, of Cocoa Beach Passed Away Peacefully at Home Oct. 22 Surrounded by Loved Ones
By Space Coast Daily // November 3, 2023
longtime owner of A1A Accounting on North 1st Street in Cocoa Beach
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Jolanta “Yogi” Collins of Cocoa Beach Florida, formerly of Orlando Florida, Ravenna Ohio, Toledo Ohio, and Warsaw Poland, passed away peacefully at home on October 22nd, 2023, surrounded by loved ones.
Jolanta was born on April 18th, 1951, in Warsaw, Poland, and was the last of seven children born to Leon and Wanda Chlebowski. Jolanta, her older brother Leon “Andy” Chlebowski, and her older sister Bozena “Kathy” Grabel, immigrated to the United States of America with her parents in 1960 when she was nine years old. Jolanta attended Rosary Cathedral in Toledo, Ohio for elementary school and graduated from Harriet Whitney High School in 1969.
Jolanta became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America in 1981 and later graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Business – Accounting from the University of Toledo in 1989.
Jolanta was a licensed cosmetologist and also worked for the United States Post Office and as a corrections officer for the Portage County (Ohio) Sherriff’s Office before beginning her career as an accountant. Shortly after settling in Cocoa Beach, Florida in 1999, Jolanta became and remained the longtime owner of A1A Accounting on North 1st Street.
Jolanta is survived by her three older siblings, Leszek Chlebowski and Roman Chlebowski of Poland, and Kathy Grabel of Toledo, Ohio. Her children Tania Hannon of Cocoa Beach, Florida, and Jack (Gina) Collins of Summerville, South Carolina. Her grandchildren; Amanda Hannon, Taylor Zakrzewski, Jacob Zakrzewski, Hailey Semler, Sara Semler, Dale Semler, Brayden Koepfer, Nicolas Collins, and Marley Collins. Her great-grandchildren; Lilly Stevenson, Colton Applegren, Jeter Stevenson, Maverick Williams, and Melayah Semler, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews across two continents.
Jolanta is preceded in death by her parents and three older brothers, Richard Chlebowski and Jerzy Chlebowski of Poland, and Leon “Andy” Chlebowski of Cocoa Beach, Florida.
A Celebration of Jolanta’s Life will be held on November 11th, 2023, at 1:00 PM at Church of Our Saviour, 5301 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931, with lunch immediately following at her favorite Cocoa Beach watering hole, Jonathan’s Pub, located at 140 N. Brevard Ave.
The family wishes to send a special thank you to the staff at St. Francis Reflections Hospice Care for their care and compassion during her final days.
