Katherine Mooney Collins

Katherine Mooney Collins was an ordinary person.  Yet, although she seemed it, she wasn’t perfect; she made mistakes like each of us have.  The difference is that she was an ordinary person who did extraordinary things with the opportunities and situations in her Life! Kay had to, as she was a true Creative, an Artist of Life: she had ingenious parents, was married to an extraordinary man, Jim Collins, and they had seven wonderful children.  One had to be extraordinary with a history like that!

Kay’s adventure began when Catherine Elizabeth Finneran emigrated from Charlestown, Ireland and John Patrick Mooney emigrated from Garvagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.  Her parents met and fell in Love in the City of Brotherly Love: Philadelphia, married in Atlantic City at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, and moved to Ventnor NJ.  That’s where Kay’s adventure began budding, when she was born on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1921.  Her parents, Catherine and Patrick, started the first florist business in Ventnor, firmly planting Kay’s lifelong affinity for and Love of all things blooming and flowering. She was truly a hot house rose, growing up amongst the rooting cellars, the planting beds, the greenhouses, the vibrant front retail shop and the colorful back design workstations. She was truly in her natural element there, positioned a block away from her other great love, the glistening Ventnor beach and majesty of the Atlantic Ocean.

A multi-talented lass, Kay explored life in Ventnor as she worked in the family business with her siblings John, Mary Fran and Peggy.   In her youth, Kay painted with local artists, danced with Madame Karanova’s Dance troupe in the Atlantic City Convention Center, and sang on the legendary Steel Pier.

Kay’s life forever changed on the night of January 11,1943 when, after a Red Cross Medical training class, she stopped at a USO dance, at Casey’s Lodge, in Atlantic City. There, she met a handsome Lt. Col. named Jim Collins, who swept her off her feet. It was Love at first sight, even though it took Jim 2 weeks to work up the nerve to call and ask her out.  Kay forgave him the time lapse, their first date was the following week at Our Lady Star of the Sea church (where Kay’s parents were married 27 years earlier), and Kay and Jim were married at St. James Church in Ventnor, on September 11, 1943. Throughout their 66 years of married life, Jim always referred to Kay as His Bride, and she always called Jim her Prince Charming.

During WWII, Kay and Jim were stationed in Greensboro, NC, then after the war Kay and their then two children were living in Atlantic City, while Jim lived in Boston in order to attend Harvard law school. During the Korean War, Jim was recommissioned to his new base in San Bernardino, California.  The family drove there from Atlantic City, experiencing the wonder and breadth of this beautiful country. When they returned from California in 1953, they settled in Wilmington, Delaware, Jim’s hometown.

In Wilmington, Kay and Jim danced headfirst into their new community and their new Church, St Mary Magdalen, which they supported in many ways, and by volunteering on many committees. Jim opened his new law practice: Healy and Collins. Years later, they would proudly expand the firm to welcome Jim Jr, to become Healy, Collins and Collins.

Kay was a volunteer with the Wilmington Flower Market, volunteering for many years with plant committees and helping grow the Antiques booth section. This love of antiques fueled a passion in Kay, which she shared with her best friend, AnneMarie Donovan, (her best friend now of over 75 years) and together with friend Karlyn Dewson, they started Heritage Tag Sales.  Their Tag Sale at the Brian Fields house in Greenville helped jumpstart their 30+ year career. Throughout that time, Kay loved working at their tag sales, and along the way, always found and shared laughter, Grace and a good bargain with her many, many friends and clients.

As if Kay wasn’t already busy enough raising their brood of seven children, she also volunteered for many years, on different committees and fundraisers. In addition to the Wilmington Flower Market, she also volunteered with St Mary Magdalen Church, Salesianum High School, Archmere Academy High School, Ministry of Caring, Immaculate heart of Mary church, The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and for several years was a Brownie Leader with Girl Scouts of America.

Kay was passionate about her family, all things flowers, antiques, gardening, and painting, having studied with artist Ed Loper. She also designed and sold dried flower arrangements at the duPont Country Club Christmas shows.

Kay maintained an active, busy Life with varied and colorful interests, for 102 of her amazing 102-3/4 years.  Throughout the years, she shared a lovely trait with Jim, her Prince Charming: they always left people with words of encouragement, a good quip, a smile or words of gratitude and thanks. She always made a point to say thank you to those who helped and assisted in her activities of daily living. Kay made sure that each person knew they were appreciated and that she was grateful for their knowledge, their care and support.  That lovely trait continued until just this past week!

She is now enjoying a very well deserved, Heavenly Rest, with her Prince Charming!

Beloved Kay, Nooney, Mom, GrandMom, MomMom, Aunt Kay, Friend, however we knew you, however you brightened our path, thank you for the wonderful and colorful memories!

Kay was predeceased by her Beloved husband of 66 years, James P. Collins, Sr., her son John Mark Collins and her daughter Karen E. Collins.  Kay is remembered with Love and survived by her children, James P. Collins, Jr. and wonderful wife Elaine, Patricia C. Field, Maureen Collins, Kevin M. Collins, Christopher M. Collins and wife Karen, amazing sister Margaret Butler, her many wonderful grandchildren, Mary Arden Collins Gorman (Mark); Peter James Collins (deceased); Catherine Collins; James P. Collins III (Andrea); Bridget Collins;  James Shighe Collins (Carmen); Jennifer Field; Kristin Field Boyce (Thad); James A. Field; Caroline Collins Henderson; Michael Collins, and Mary Elizabeth Collins; plus her wonderful great-grandchildren: Jude Gulotti; Madison Boyce; McKinley Boyce; Malaney Boyce; Bodhi Gorman; Sahara Gorman; Noelle Collins, and Madeleine Henderson.  She is also survived by her loving nieces, nephews, and best friend AnneMarie Donovan.

Kay’s family are especially grateful for the help, support and blessing of Patti’s daughter and Kay’s granddaughter’s, Jennifer Field, RN, who was a tremendous help and delight to Kay in her last years and is the true embodiment of an angel! Jennifer and her partner Steve were the second to the last to visit Kay this past week, while she was still able to enjoy their visit.

Kay also had “extra” daughters who graced her Life throughout the years: Annie Halverson (Dad’s amazing and magical secretary whom he “bequeathed” to Brother Ronald at the Ministry of Caring);  Beverly Brown, RN extraordinaire from NIH; fellow artist, dancing and singing partner Jane Quartarone,  Mary Digiacoma Salisbury, who was always a delight and brought laughter and light with her, every time she visited. Thank you for the gifts of Love and Joy you each added to Kay’s Life.

We are especially grateful to the Angels at Vitas Hospice: Absolute Angel Joanne, Early Morning Angel Kumba, Kiersten, Mary, Musical Angel Skyler and all the Vitas Staff who practiced compassion and care with a comforting experience.

The family would also like to thank the staff at Sunrise: Afier, Keitha, Shannon, Erin, Milo, Rommel, Henry, Tiffani, Anna, Sediika, Marcy, Stacy, Angie, Tamme, Kelly and ALL her caregivers.  We would like to acknowledge staff at Foulk Living:  especially Elizabeth, John, Diep, Nickoline, Evelyn, Joyce, Dee, Irena, and Ammie for their care.

And throughout, Kay also loved Steve.