Westport Point – Barbara J. (O’Neil) Collins, 83, of Westport Point died Friday, June 18, 2004, peacefully at home in the company of her family. She was the wife of Joseph W. Collins and the widow of Richard Dobbyn, Jr.
She was born in Manhattan, New York, the only child of the late John L. and Lillian Mae (Davis) O’Neil, raised in Binghamton, New York and had resided in Westport Point since 1973.
Mrs. Collins graduated from C.S. Wilson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1942 and worked as a registered nurse for many years. In 1975 she received a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Roger Williams College. She became a nutritional counselor and was a pioneer in the field of holistic health. Active in the alternative wellness community, she and her husband Joseph were Shaklee independent distributors.
She studied Eastern Spiritual Philosophy, wrote poetry, played piano and loved animals. Long-time summer residents, she and her family enjoyed the beach and made Westport Point their permanent home in 1973.
In addition to her loving husband, she is survived by 5 sons: Richard Dobbyn of Sarasota, FL, Dennis Dobbyn of Warren, RI, Stephen Collins of Concord, MA, Vincent Collins of Alachua, FL and Mark Collins of Westport; 4 daughters: Christina Wood of Dania Beach, FL, Phyllis Mahoney of Ashby, MA, Polly Emilita of Westport and Bobbie Collins-Perry of Durham, NC; and 15 grandchildren.
She was the grandmother of the late Emily Savannah Collins.
A memorial service to which relatives and friends are invited will be held Sunday, June 20, 2004 at 1:00 P.M. at the Potter Funeral Home, 81 Reed Road, Westport.
Calling hours are omitted.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the charity of your choice; the family suggests: Last Chance Cat Sanctuary, 7 College Lane, N. Dartmouth, MA 02747, Animal Advocates, P.O. Box 79258, Dartmouth, MA 02747 and Hospice Care of St. Luke’s, 28 Scontitut Neck Rd., Fairhaven, MA 02719.