Obituary: Catherine M. Collins

MADISON - Catherine M. Collins, "Kay" to her many friends, age 96, died on Tuesday, April 27, 2004, at Attic Angel Place, where she was a resident for 15 years. She was born on April 30, 1907, in Madison, the daughter of William H. and Dora (Kinney) Collins. Except for two years teaching in Antigo and three years of working in New York City, she spent all of her life in Madison. She graduated from St. Patrick's Grade School, Madison Central High School and University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received a B.A. and an M.A. degree. She taught speech and English at East Junior High School and later joined the guidance department at East High School, where she was a school counselor until her retirement in 1972. After retirement she engaged in many volunteer activities, among them, guiding and ushering at the Civic Center. But the thing that made her the happiest was volunteer teaching as an aide on the primary level at St. Patrick's and Lapham schools and then for 20 years at Blessed Sacrament School. For almost her entire life she has been a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Madison and participated in many activities there. She is survived by her sister, Dorothy DeWitt; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers; and their wives, William K. (Dorothy Adams), John C. (Kathleen Tyler), Paul C. (Burdette Williams), Joseph S. (Helen Hodgson), and Joan Crary; and brother-in-law, Thomas DeWitt. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 30, 2004, at ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 404 E. Main St., with Bishop George Wirz officiating. Burial will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Friday. "I see death not as an ending, but as the last stage in this life - the beginning of a better life in Christ." - Kaye Rafko. Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services 5701 Odana Road (608) 274-1000

Originally published in the Wisconsn State Journal on April 29, 2004