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Mary Teresa Monaghan Collins - Class of
1959
Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com>
on 12/Jan/2024
71.223.162.184
Mary Teresa Monaghan Collins - Class of 1959 - 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, NY 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.
Calling hours will be held on: Monday, 1/15/2024 from 3-6pm
DiDonato's Funeral Services, Rt 9w Marlboro, NY Funeral
Services will take place on: Tuesday 1/16/2024 at 10:30am St
Mary's Church, Rt 9w Marlboro, NY 12542 - 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
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