Paul Joseph Collins September 7, 1938 - August 8, 2012 Plainfield - Paul Joseph Collins, 73, of Toper Road, died peacefully on the afternoon of Wednesday August 8, 2012, at Brigham & Women's Hospital after a short illness. He was born in Saint Johns, Newfoundland on September 7, 1938, the son of Michael and Anne Josephine Collins. The family moved to Malden, MA and then Fishers Island, NY where he attended High School. Mr. Collins served in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1960 before returning to Fishers Island, NY where he met and married Kathleen Dooley Collins his wife of 48 years, who survives him. He retired in 1996 from Triangle Industries of Jewett City after 32 years of employment. He was a devoted husband and father as well as an attentive Pop-Pop to his grandchildren. He was a life long member of the Knights of Columbus, William R. Rush Association and the Tin Can Sailors Association. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Grace Church on Fishers Island, NY and St. John the Apostle Church in Plainfield. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Catherine Collins of Providence, RI and Pauline Collins Heeney and her husband Matthew of Newton, MA. Paul's grandchildren, Molly C.F. Heeney and Jack D. D. Heeney, also survive him. As the fourth of five children, Paul is survived by his three sisters and one brother; Joan Lombardi of Lomita, CA, Elizabeth Weigand of Pasadena, CA, Regina Kohlhepp of Nantucket, MA; Reginald Collins and his wife Linda of Griffin, GA. Paul is also survived by several nieces and nephews, all of whom added good wine and good laughs to his life over the years.
The funeral services will be held at 11 A.M. Friday, August 17th at Our Lady of Grace Church, Fisher's Island, NY. A special ferry will run from the Fishers Island Ferry District Terminal in New London, CT departing at 10 A.M. Return to the mainland will be by regular scheduled ferries found at www.fiferry.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his 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).
www.lawlerfuneralhome.com