COLLINS, Sylvia (Mealey) of Abington, passed away surrounded lovingly by family on December 28, 2017 following an illness. She had a brief stay at a hospice house in the beautiful Turkey Hill area of Hingham. She was born in Boston on October 12, 1941. She was the loving wife of 54 years of Edward Collins, Sr.
She was raised in South Boston and was a graduate of South Boston High School and the University of Massachusetts Boston. A resident of Abington for almost 50 years. She was a wonderful Mom (first, foremost and always) and a homemaker initially. Subsequently, she became a long-time manager/social worker for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts within the Health and Human Services Division. She was devoted to her family, friends, and helping other people.
Sylvia was an avid reader, amateur author, and a life-long learner. She loved being with family, being extremely active with her grandchildren (all eight of them), and being active in her community. She especially loved being with family in the summer in Harwich. She also loved traveling in general and for numerous family events with longtime family friends Jim and Doris Driscoll.
Sylvia is survived by her husband Edward Collins; her daughter Joan Dole and her husband Chris of Abington; her grandchildren Melissa, Amanda, Hillary, and Jason of Abington; her grandchildren Emily and Edward of Hanson; her twin son Steven Collins and his friend Wendy of Boston, and her twin son Shawn Collins and his wife Amy of New York, NY; her grandchildren Maeve and Maura of New York, NY. She is also survived by longtime family friends Jim Driscoll and Gail and Brian Faxon and their families.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Visiting hours will be held at the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, 666 Plymouth Street, Whitman (Rte. 58 at the rotary circle) on Tuesday, January 2 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at 9:00 am at Saint Bridget Parish, 455 Plymouth Street, Abington. Burial will follow in the Mount Vernon Cemetery, Abington.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sylvia may be made to South Shore Hospital or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.