Francis M. Collins of Dedham died November 6, 2007 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. He was 83. He was the beloved husband of Mary P. (McNamara) Collins.
Born in Boston, the son of the late James and Margaret (Crosby) Collins, he was a longtime Dedham resident. He was a World War II, U.S. Army Veteran. He was a 50 year member of the YMCA of Boston and a former employee of the Boston Globe.
He was the devoted father of James J. Peterson of Mansfield, Michael J. Peterson of Norton, Francis M. Collins Jr. of Mansfield and the late Mary M. Collins and the grandfather of Megan J. Wells of Dedham, Carlton J. Wells of Dedham, Michael J. Peterson of Sandwich, Kerry Anne Cummins of Norton and Sean, Jared and Matthew Collins all of Mansfield. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
His funeral will be held from the George F. Doherty & Sons Wilson-Cannon Funeral Home, 456 High St., Dedham, Saturday at 8:00 AM with a funeral mass in St. Mary’s Church, Dedham at 9:00 AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Interment will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, West Roxbury. Visiting hours will be on Friday from 3-5 & 7-9 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the St. Mary’s Life Teen Center, 420 High St., Dedham, MA 02026.