PORTLAND – Marilyn Collins, 78, passed away peacefully March 11, 2013, surrounded by loved ones. She was born in 1934, in Huntington, W.Va., the fourth child of Quinn and Irma Martin.
Marilyn attended Marshall College, Huntington, W.Va., where she met her husband, Edward Collins. Together they spent most of their lives in Orono, where they raised their three children. Marilyn had several different occupations during her life, but is most remembered as an energetic and creative mother, homemaker, hospice volunteer and worked for several years as activities director at Bangor Mental Health Institute. She worked for many years as a Cub Scout leader, Brownie and Girl Scout leader, and was director for the annual Unicef campaign in Orono in the 1960s and 1970s. Marilyn and Edward traveled extensively in Europe. She was particularly fond of Scotland, Belgium, Italy and Greece. Marilyn will long be remembered for her kindness and her wit; she was a longtime crusader for social justice; and a dyed in the wool Democrat.
She is survived by her loving husband, Edward Collins; their three children, Karen Collins, Quinn Collins and Rocky Collins and wife, Kate; brother, Robert Martin; and sisters, Quinn Van Nostrand and Nancy Stewart. She is lovingly remembered by Thomas Sheehan. She will also be greatly missed by her seven grandchildren, Caitlin, Madeleine and Cameron Sheehan, Eva and Henry Collins, and Violet and Odette Collins; numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be announced at a future date. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at www.alzfdn.org/ or Unicef at https://secure.unicefusa.org.
Marilyn Collins
