Kathleen (Dooley) Collins, 77, died suddenly on Saturday, January 4, 2014.
Mrs. Collins was a resident of Plainfield and Fishers Island, N.Y. She will be remembered fondly for her kindness of spirit, sincerity, steadfastness, compassion and her devotion to family, who provided her with much joy and great pride.
Kate was born in Monasterevan, Ireland, on Aug. 28, 1936, the tenth child of Joseph and Catherine Dooley’s eleven children. She first came to New York City in 1956 where she joined her sisters, Elizabeth and Bernadette, and extended family. In the years that followed, Kate worked in New York and often traveled to Fishers Island to visit with her sisters and their families. It was there that she met and later married her loving and devoted husband of 48 years, Paul Joseph Collins. They were married at Our Lady of Grace Church on Nov. 21, 1964 and began a long and happy union, settling in Connecticut. They also enjoyed many happy times with both of their families on Fishers Island.
Kate was a devoted wife to Paul, who predeceased her, a loving mother and a very attentive “Nana” to her grandchildren. She was a loyal parishioner of Our Lady of Grace Church on Fishers Island, N.Y. and St. John the Apostle Church in Plainfield.
She is survived by two daughters, Catherine A. Collins of Providence, R.I. and Pauline C. Heeney of Newton, Mass.; her son-in-law, Matthew Heeney; and her beloved grandchildren, Molly and Jack Heeney. Kate is also survived by her sister, Elizabeth Peishoff of Fishers Island, N.Y.; as well as dozens of nieces and nephews, who loved her dearly and will miss her greatly.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 18, at Our Lady of Grace Church, Fishers Island, N.Y. For travel information, please contact the Fishers Island Ferry District Terminal in New London, at 860-442-0165.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Island People’s Project, P.O. Box 523, Fishers Island, NY 06390, or Our Lady of Grace Church, P.O. Box 425, Fishers Island, NY 06390.
Published in The Day on Jan. 12, 2014
