Obituary of Joann M. Collins

Joann M. Collins, age 54, passed away peacefully at her home in Greenway, NY, on June 2, 2020. She was born in Rome, NY, on December 10, 1965, to Robert and Marjorie Grems Hesler. She was a 1984 graduate of VVS High School and married Patrick Collins in 1986. She spent 19 years homeschooling her ten children, passing on to them her own love of learning and especially the Catholic Faith that she held most dear. Joann is especially remembered for her handcrafts. She could always be found with her crochet hook in hand working on some project or other. She spent this gift selflessly, making blankets for babies, mittens for less fortunate school children, hats and slippers for battered women shelters, and much more. These past months, she made hundreds of masks to give away for free during the Covid-19 epidemic. She is survived by her loving husband Patrick; her mother Marjorie Hesler; her children, Patrick Collins, Rebecca (Matthew) Klievoneit , Matthew (Alexis) Collins, Daniel Collins, Amy Collins, Laura Collins, Mark Collins, Grace Collins, Luke Collins, and Kimberly Collins; her three grandchildren, Carson, Jason, and Sophia; and her siblings, Susan (Rick) Gifford, Pam (Brian) Boothroyd, Robert (Deborah) Hesler, and Stephen (Stephanie) Hesler. The burial will take place privately on Friday, June 5th, with a public reception to follow from 3:30-6 PM at Holy Cross Academy in Oneida where social distancing will be enforced. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Cross Academy, 4020 Barrington Rd., Oneida, NY 13421.