Joan Patricia Collins

Joan Patricia Collins

1933 - 2015

Joan Patricia Collins, age 82, of Longwood, FL, formerly of Rutherford, NJ, passed away peacefully at home on October 22, 2015.

Daughter of the late Francis Collins and Marion Hewitt, Joan was born April 29, 1933, in White Plains, NY. A loving daughter who never married, she lived happily with her parents in Rutherford, before mourning the sudden death of her mother and caring for her father until his passing. Joan's older brother, Francis Collins, Jr., recently passed away in January of this year.

Joan was a graduate of New York University and earned a master's degree in education from Seton Hall University. She spent her teaching career in the Catholic school system in Passaic County, New Jersey. Although she never had children of her own, she was blessed to have many children whom she taught during her 30-year career, before retiring in 1992. Joan moved to Florida in 1997, where she remained until her death.

Joan loved to travel when she was younger. She was also an avid reader, sometimes reading two books at a time. She loved horseracing, something she said she got from her grandmother who used to go to the track. She loved going to plays – most recently, Wicked – and movies and museums. She was a history buff, and three of her favorite movies were Tora Tora Tora, The Longest Day and Patton, which she watched over and over near the end of her life. Joan loved anything to do with the Queen and the Royals, a nod to her English heritage (the other half, being Irish). She was a dog lover and had five furry-faced "children" during her lifetime, the last of which remains with her friend and caregiver, Debi Temple.

The last 11 months of Joan's life, she was bedridden. Joan's family would like to convey their deepest appreciation to the wonderful people who took such special care of her, especially Ms. Temple, Marie Nelson of the Visiting Angels and to those from Hospice of the Comforter.

Joan is survived by her five nieces and nephew, all of Delaware: Karen Collins-Lenoir, Susan (Collins) Gadonas, Craig Collins, Janet Collins-Griffin, Ellen (Collins) Bockman, and Kathi Collins. She is also survived by her cousins, Patty (Hewitt) Gaska and Barbara (Congram) Sullivan, and her sister-in-law, Eleanor Collins, as well as seven great-nieces, three great-nephews and one great-great-nephew.

Friends and family are invited to attend a prayer service on Thursday, November 5th, at 4 pm at the South Seminole Chapel of Newcomer Funeral Homes on East State Road in Longwood, FL. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a later date in Clifton, NJ.