It is with enduring sadness, that my brothers and I announce the passing of our Mother, Mary T. Collins. Mom passed away suddenly in the comforts of her home in Duck Town (New Windsor, on Tuesday, January 9, 2024) after several years of battling health issues that come along with “old age.”
Mom, 82, was born on July 2, 1941 in the south side of Philadelphia and at the ripe age of 7 moved to the Newburgh area along with her Mother, the late Frances A. Linton (6/26/21-9/10/12) and her younger brother, Tommy.
Mom went to Gardnertown School and then eventually graduated from NFA, class of ‘59. Mom spoke very highly of her younger years-“Summering” in Plattekill, Growing up on Johnson St and then moving out to Taft Avenue.
Still, to this very day, Mom had friends from Grade School. She loved seeing them at Club 60 and at many of their group lunch outings, something she always looked forward to. After HS, Mom began her career. She was employed by Lloyd’s SuperCenter in both Newburgh and Middletown, worked directly under Ed Lloyd as his personal assistant. Mom accepted credit for running a tight ship and took great pride in her role as a successful career woman.
Mom’s next role was marriage. Mom met our father, Richard M. Collins of Milton (08/15/1938-11/26/2006) when she was 15. Dad was a Senior at Marlboro High School and Mom, a Freshman at NFA. After returning from the Army and beginning his career at IBM, Mom and Dad were married 5/3/64 at St Patrick’s Church in Newburgh. With marriage, comes family and Billy entering this world October 18, 1970, Brian February 6, 1974 and finally Katie January 4, 1979, in the house they built together, abutted against Apple Orchards, appropriately named Penny Lane because that’s all they had left, were pennies.
Around 1985 and all while raising a busy and active family, Mom began what really set her apart from everyone else and a legacy that will carry on for years- her Interior Decorating business. I will place odds, that any new housing development sprung up within Newburgh and the Marlboro areas, she wallpapered and decorated most, if not all of them. All by herself. As a kid, when I was punished or “stayed home sick” from school, I didn’t get the luxury most times of Bob Barker and Soaps, I had a paint brush in my hand or cutting wallpaper to size. A self made Empire successful by word of mouth, and that’s one thing she was most proud of too, her word. It was always truthful, honest and at times not what you wanted to hear, but needed to.
Mom leaves behind her 3 children who meant more to her than anything in this world- William J. Collins III (Holmdel, NJ) and his wife Melissa, their 2 children, Leah and Daniel- Brian T. Collins (Katonah, NY) and his wife Kendra, their son Jacob- and Mary-Catherine Collins (Highland, NY). Her brother, Thomas Monaghan (formerly of Newburgh) and his wife Martha. So many nieces and nephews, that she loved just like her own and many great neighbors from Penny Lane in Marlboro where we grew up, who became her family as well.
As tough as she was, she had a heart of gold and would do anything for you. Mom is truly going to be missed, she holds a different piece and place in all of our hearts and lives. No matter what role she played- daughter, sister, wife, mother, businesswoman, friend; she played it well.
Funeral Services will be held on: Tuesday 1/16/2024 at 10:30 a.m. St Mary’s Church, Rt 9w Marlboro. Burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Marlboro, NY
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the DiDonato Funeral Service, Inc. (845) 236-4300, www.didonatofuneralservice.com