Mary "Ginny" Collins

Mary Virginia “Ginny” (Hayes) Collins went to be with the Lord September 6, 2013, after a courageous battle against cancer. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family.
Ginny was born April 20, 1940 in Chicago, IL to Tom and Mabel Hayes and was a granddaughter of Waukon residents Michael and Mary Devitt. She graduated from Ascension Grade School, Trinity High School and Oak Park Nursing School, creating lasting friendships along the way.
July 6, 1963, Ginny married the love of her life, Jay Collins, at Ascension Catholic Church. The couple lived first in Chicago, IL, moved to Rancho Palos Verdes, then bought their first home in La Habra, CA. Some of her fondest memories centered on the country home the family shared in Lawson, MO.  In 1972, they settled in La Habra Heights, CA, where they raised their eight children. Ginny and Jay opened their Irish home and hearts to many. A nurse by profession, she volunteered at school and performed missionary work. She was active in her children’s lives and in her community - the City of La Habra Heights.
Ginny shared Jay’s love of sailing, and together they sailed all over the world. She was fiercely proud of her family’s Irish heritage and was also an accomplished pianist. Her faith was a cornerstone of her life. Ginny served the Catholic Church at both Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Bruno’s, most recently as an Executive Board Member of the Los Angeles Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women. A special memory was a visit to Rome where she was a part of the canonization of St. Mother Theodore Guerin, foundress of the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary of the Woods, celebrated by Pope Benedict.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jay. She is survived by her eight children, Mary (Mark) Dove, Kathleen (Cor) Meijerink, Meg (Mike) McWade, Eileen Collins, Trish (Tim) Arnold, Colleen Bevans, John (Heather) and Tom (Addie); 16 grandchildren; her brothers, Jerry (Susie) Hayes and Jim Hayes; her sister, Ann (Ray) Springer; her sisters-in-law, Peggy Clifford and Gail (Fred) Seidel; and her nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Sisters of Providence for the shrine of Mother Theodore Guerin at www.spsmw.org.