BEVERLY: William D. “Bill” Collins, 81, died, Saturday, July 25, 2015 at Salem Hospital. He was the husband of Mary E. (Reilly) Collins.
Born in Boston on September 21, 1933, he was the son of the late Francis and Agnes (Gately) Collins. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War, he was honorably discharged in March 1954. He had resided in South Boston and West Roxbury for many years before moving to Beverly forty-three years ago.
Bill was employed by Varian Associates in Beverly as a security guard for many years before his retirement in 1996. He was an avid gardener and shared his plants and crops with many. He was also a lover of books and thoughtfully passed on many books to his family and friends. He was best known for his blueberry muffins, his sense of humor, his fierce devotion to family and especially to his Irish heritage. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the medical staff at Mass General Hospital, Salem Hospital and Partners Home Care.
In addition to his wife of forty-three years, he is survived by his three children, Daniel Collins of Gloucester, MaryAnne Stecken, her husband Kurt Stecken and their son, Kellan of Breckenridge, CO and Kathleen “Katie” Collins of San Rafael, CA; two sisters-in-law, Patricia Veator and her husband, Laurence of Gloucester and Sister Ellen Reilly, S.N.D. of Milton and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was also predeceased by his sister, Eileen Chose and two brothers, Robert and John Collins.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday in St. John the Evangelist Church, New Balch St., Beverly at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot St., Beverly from 4 – 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to St. John the Evangelist Church, 552 Cabot St., Beverly, MA 01915. Interment will be held in North Beverly Cemetery.