Marie Helen Robins

1928 - 2024

Marie Helen Robins, 96, of Charlottesville, VA passed away peacefully at home on Easter Vigil March 30, 2024 surrounded by her children. Marie had a long, wonderful, and full life just like her husband, James Kendall Robins, who passed away last February.

Marie was born in Waltham, MA on February 21, 1928 to her parents Catherine Josephine (Rogers) Keaveney and Martin Keaveney. She stayed close to home, 114 School Street. Marie was baptized, received her first Holy Communion, confirmed, and was married across the street at St. Mary's. She graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1945 and earned her nursing diploma from the Melrose Hospital School of Nursing in 1946. Never one to turn down an adventure, Marie and her friend Pat Flynn moved to Arizona. Marie served as a nurse during the 1950s polio epidemic. She discovered horses, cowboys, and the West. Marie missed advancing her education, so she took operating room technique courses at Baylor University before finally returning home to 114 School Street. She worked as a nurse at Tufts-New England Medical Center. Marie eventually graduated from Boston College with a BS in nursing and a minor in theology in 1959 and was president of the student-faculty organization. She followed with a M.Ed. from Boston University in 1963 and was an elected board member of the National Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses (AORN). Marie was accepted into the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program at Boston University, but a chance introduction to Jim Robins during a game of bridge at Jones Motel in Winslow, Maine upended those plans.

Beginning on her wedding day, September 12, 1964, Marie focused all her energy on family. Daniel was born in Maine with Ann Marie and Kelly soon joining in Turnersville, NJ. She continued her nursing career in South Jersey while raising a family. She worked the night shift at West Jersey Hospital. Once her children were in school, Marie worked as a school nurse in the Washington Township school system, taught nursing at Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, and later trained home health aides at the South Jersey Visiting Nurse Association. Marie was a registered nurse for over fifty years. Following retirement, she and Jim relocated to Center Conway, NH in 1994. It was their primary home up until a few years ago. Their circle of friends grew for years as they traveled up and down the East Coast visiting family and old friends. Marie loved a gathering and, of course, a glass of red wine. They hosted several large, catered parties and countless small happy hours in the Gathering Room. They purchased a second home in Charlottesville, VA to escape the New Hampshire snow. More importantly, as the years rolled on, their daughter Kelly and the Howard family supported their claim of independence.

Marie is also predeceased by her brothers Martin J. Keaveney and Raymond L. Keaveney, and her sisters, Bernadette Healy, Dorothea Mercier and Sister Patricia Keaveney, SND. She leaves her children, Daniel S. Robins and his wife Amy Robins of Oak Park, IL; Ann Marie Robins and her husband Jorge Hernando of Pinecrest, FL; and Kelly A. Robins and her husband Paul J. Howard of Charlottesville, VA. Marie was blessed with 13 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Marie is survived by her sister Madeline Bradley of Davie, FL as well as many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be held to celebrate the life of Marie Robins on May 25, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains, 2905 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH. Following the Mass, Marie's remains will be laid to rest at St. Joseph Cemetery located on Route 302, Bartlett, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Society for Propagation of the Faith (1011 First Avenue, New York, NY 10022) or Covenant House (5 Penn Plaza, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10001).