Published in the May 25, 2018 edition
MELROSE — Ann E. (Shea) Collins, 82, passed away at Greenwood Nursing & Rehab in Wakefield on May 17, 2018.
Mrs. Collins was born in Wakefield on July 26, 1935 and was one of six children of the late Richard and Anna (Driscoll) Shea. Ann was raised in Wakefield, graduated from Wakefield High School and has been a resident of Melrose for over 50 years. She worked as a patient care coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital for 23 years. Mrs. Collins enjoyed spending summertime in Acton, Maine, taking trips to California to visit family and loved her trip to Ireland she took with her sister Judy. She volunteered at the Melrose YMCA and the Kappa swap Shop in Melrose. Ann was a longtime parishioner at Incarnation Church in Melrose where she taught CCD and was a Eucharistic Minister at church. She was an avid walker and was a member of “Club”, a group of classmates from Wakefield High School who would gather and go out to dinner together.
Mrs. Collins was the beloved wife of the late Robert J. Collins. Loving mother of Joseph F. Collins of Melrose, Patricia A. Sullivan and her husband Bryan of Melrose, Nancy E. Collins of Wakefield and Brian J. Collins and his wife Stacey of Calif. Cherished grandmother of Brianna and Madalyn Sullivan and Reilly, McKenna and Reagan Collins. Caring sister of Judy Shea of Wakefield, Richard H. Shea of W. Newbury, Charles Shea of Wakefield and the late Francis and Phillip Shea. Also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 West Foster St. Melrose, on Wednesday, May 23. Funeral procession from Gately Funeral Home on Thursday morning, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Incarnation Church, 425 Upham St. Melrose. Interment at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. Relatives and friends were respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Ann’s name to Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com.