BANGOR – Rita Collins, 88, wife of the late William J. Collins, died Jan. 18, 2009, at the Maine Veterans’ Home, Bangor. She was born Nov. 1, 1920, in Bangor, the daughter of Oliver and Mary (Bushway) Cormier. Rita was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She worked for many years at Early American Gift Shop in downtown Bangor. Rita was a lifelong communicant of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She is survived by her three children, Judith Ann and her husband, Jeff Brann, of Lakeland, Fla., Jean and her husband, Fred Holland, of Bangor, and William Collins Jr. and his wife, Cynthia, of Orrington; six grandchildren, Scott Brann and his wife, Wanda, Matthew Brann, Kristen Holland, Kara and her husband, Ben Smith, Sean Collins, and Katherine Collins; her brother, Edwin Cormier and his wife, Janice; sisters-in-law, Peg Cormier and Teresa McNeil; brother-in-law, Terrence McAloon; very special friends, Dotty and Daisey; two great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brothers, Oliver Cormier and Joseph Cormier; and her sister, Theresa McAloon. Friends may call 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bangor. Interment will be after at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bangor. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and fellowship immediately after the interment at St. Mary’s. If you would like to remember Rita in a special way, gifts in her memory may be sent to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 768 Ohio St., Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
MARY ‘RITA’ COLLINS
