Margaret “Ann” O’Connell Collins, 86, passed away at her home on the evening of Monday, Dec. 11.
Ann was born June 18, 1931, the fourth of four children of Ralph and Helen (Dunfrey) O’Connell of Pittsfield. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 60 years, Bernard “Doc” Collins; her brothers William and Stephen O’Connell; and grandsons Alexander Collins and Wesley Mitchell.
She was an active communicant of St. Mary’s Church since 1955, where she also served as a eucharistic minister, participated as a member of the altar guild, and regularly volunteered at the parish. She attended the Emma Willard School before finishing her education at Tobe-Coburn School of Design and Merchandising in New York City. She married Bern in 1952 and they moved to Philadelphia while he completed his last two years of veterinary medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to raising nine children, Ann worked alongside her husband at Collins Veterinary Hospital in Lee throughout his career. Until her death, Ann thoroughly enjoyed spending time with and entertaining family and friends. She was an avid golfer and knitter, played Mahjong weekly, attended church daily, and volunteered often for community events.
Ann is survived by her sister, Helen Simpson of North Carolina; the nine children she and Bern loved dearly, including sons Bernard (and wife Maryellen), Chauncey, Matthew, Peter (and wife Leslie) and Bartholomew (and wife Amy), and daughter: Elizabeth “Libby” Collins (Ron Driscoll), Linda Mitchell, Lee Ann Collins and Laura Collins Downing; and her 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, of whom she was extremely proud.
The family will receive friends Friday, Dec. 15, from 4 until 7 p.m.at the Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main St., Lee, MA 01238. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, Dec. 16, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 140 Main St. in Lee, with Fr. Brian McGrath, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ann’s memory to St. Mary’s Church, HospiceCare in the Berkshires or the American Lung Association in care of Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main St., Lee, MA 01238. To send a donation, leave a message of condolence or share pictures, visit www.kellyfuneralhome.net.
