Blanche V. Collins, R.N.
...Billerica School Nurse; 93
BILLERICA - Blanche Viola (Deputat) Collins, R.N., age 93, died Friday, January 28 at the Sunny Acres Nursing Care Center following a long period of declining health. She was the wife for 54 years of Philip I. Collins, who died in 1993.
She was born in Lowell, March 28, 1917, a daughter of the late Vladislas "Walter" and Theofila (Sewicka) (Nawossa) Deputat, and was raised on her family's farm in North Chelmsford. She graduated from Chelmsford High School with the Class of 1934, and went on to graduate first in her class from the Lowell General Hospital School of Nursing, with the Class of 1938. She earned her R.N. certification and applied her nursing skills at Lowell General Hospital, did private duty nursing, was office nurse for several local doctors, and when health concerns became evident, she worked as Industrial Nurse and later as school nurse in the Billerica School system. .
She and her husband traveled between Maine and Florida for 22 years where they summered at the SeaVu Campground in Wells, ME, and Fran-Mort Campground in Arundel, ME. and wintered in their home in Vero Beach. FL.
She and her late husband operated the Billerica High School football concessions stands for two decades prior to conceding the business to the Billerica High Boosters Club.
She also held lifetime honorary membership in the L.G.H. School of Nursing Alumni Association.
She was a former communicant of the Holy Trinity Polish Church in Lowell, St. John the Evangelist Church in No. Chelmsford and upon marriage, attended the No. Billerica Baptist Church.
Her favorite memories were babysitting her grandchildren, holding her newborn great grandchildren in her arms, family cookouts, beach picnics in Florida, camping trips, and weekly card games with her lady friends.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Geraldine A. "Geri" Penney and her husband Richard of No. Billerica; a granddaughter, Kathryn Penney-Clarke of Townsend; a grandson, Michael P. Penney and his wife Deborah of Pepperell; five great grandchildren, Thomas and Craig Penney of Pepperell; Eric, Paige, and Daniel Clarke of Townsend; a brother and sister-in-law, Walter and Gloria Deputat of Tewksbury; her cousins, Henry and Ted Makarewicz of Salisbury, and Shirley Kirk of PA; and seventeen nieces and nephews.
She was also sister of the late Amelia Deputat, Isadore Nawossa, Edward Deputat, Sophie Olasz, and Jospeh Deputat; and cousin to the late Genevieve Buia, Mary Kozlowski, Stephanie Brunelle, Mary McDermott, Alice Clark, Blanche Hawes, and Stanley Kotowski.
Relatives and friends will be received Monday, January 31 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of Dewey and Main Sts. (Rte 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, phone (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. Her Funeral will begin at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 1 from the funeral home, continuing with a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. in St. William Church, 1351 Main St., Tewksbury, followed by a committal service at St. Patrick Cemetery Chapel in Lowell. A springtime burial will be in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Lowell. Memorial Contributions to the L.G.H. Cancer Center, c/o Development Office, 295 Varnum Ave., Lowell, MA 01854 , The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1456, Lowell, MA 01854, or Sunny Acres Resident Activities Fund, Attn: Judy Saba, 254 Billerica Rd, Chelmsford, MA 01824-4184 will be appreciated.