Name: Calling hours for James Luke Collins
Start: 2018-11-05T23:00:00.000Z
End: 2018-11-06T01:00:00.000Z
Location: J. Nelson Rigby Funeral Home, Inc. - Media

James Luke Collins of West Chester, PA accepted Jesus, his best friend's hand in death on October 30, 2018.
Jimmy was born in New York City on October 3, 1936, the only son of Rose Ellen, "Rosie", and James of Elmhurst in Queens, NY (originally from County Carlow in Ireland). He's predeceased by his older sisters, Mary, Helen, and Patricia. For the better part of his life he was lovingly devoted to the welfare of his family, especially his seven children, Ellen Theresa, Matthew James, Kevin Michael, Brian Paul, Daniel Luke, Heather Maureen, Susan Elizabeth, his beloved wife, Kathleen Margaret, his nine grandchildren and his many, many friends.
St. Mary's grade school in Woodside, NY is where he met his lifelong friends before going on to La Salle Academy (class of 1954) and St. Peter's College in Jersey City, NJ. Always one to earn his own way, he was a promising baseball player and started early with business experience in the Garment District of NYC. Being a natural salesman, a long career with Dun & Bradstreet brought him to reside in Smithtown, NY, Elmhurst and Bloomingdale, IL, Northridge, CA, and Newtown Square, PA. Jim would later work for Blue Cross Blue Shield of PA and as an independent consultant selling long-term healthcare insurance.
Jim always held a special place in his heart for gathering with family and friends , especially at the beaches of the Jersey shore, where he had homes in Ocean City and Wildwood, NJ.
A proud Irishman, he loved visiting his parent's homeland and cherished time with his kin there in the Irish countryside. No matter where he was, if he could help you, big Jim did. Like a good shepherd, through the stories he shared and the lives he touched, we'll forever remember his contagious smile, the twinkle in his blue eyes and his spirited practice of heart felt generosity and service to others.
Relatives and Friends may call Monday Nov. 5, from 6-8pm in the J. Nelson Rigby Funeral Home,
1 W. Baltimore Avenue Media. Mass 10am Tuesday in St. Anastasia Catholic Church 3309 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square 19073. Calling 9-9:45am in Church.
Interment Private.
Condolences: jnelsonrigbyfh.com

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Published by Daily Times from Nov. 5 to Nov. 6, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for James Collins

Sponsored by DelcoTimes.com.

6 Entries

Ellen Collins

November 6, 2018

Eulogy 11/6/2018:

Those we love dont go away, they walk beside us every day,
Unseen, unheard but always near, still loved, still missed and very dear.

We have truly been witnesses to the life of a Good Shepherd in knowing our dearly departed, Jimmy Collins. Since his childhood, the church was a most important part of life. He lived his daily life as a man committed to the sanctity of the Catholic Church and his precious relationship with Jesus and the Blessed Mother Mary. At 80 years old, he was still saying his prayers on his knees before bed every night and naming his friends and family members to be remembered and taken care of by Christ our Lord.

Forty years ago, in Dec. of 1977, after moving across the country from southern California, Jim joined the St. Anastasias parish in Newtown Square and raised his children in the St. Annies parish school. Old friends will surely remember this grand church space for all the many baptisms, communions and confirmations previously attended. Events like these provoked moments that were some of the most precious times of his life. Anyone who knew him knew, he clearly treasured his time with family and friends.

When he lost his mother, Rosie, in the early 70s, that was one of the saddest moments of his life. Years later hed wish she was there when for his 43rd birthday, on October 3, 1979, he chose to celebrate it by taking the entire family to see Pope John Paul II at Logans Circle in Philadelphia PA. Then losing his Dad in the early 80s was another sad milestone. His many trips abroad to Ireland were always heartfelt lengthy visits spent exclusively with his cousins and relatives who would cry when Jimmy departed. They loved him so.

There are so many admirable qualities of Jims to reflect on, foremost being his extraordinary generosity. Often referred to as big Jim, he had this trait of being and doing things in a big way with a willingness to do whatever he could to help those that he could. Whether it was time, money or an ear for some advice, it didnt matter, he loved to share them all.

Angel Guardian and Catholic Charities witnessed him open his heart and home in the biggest of ways to seven children of the world who were in need of loving parents. This father, adopting seven children, three from US soil and four from South Korea, would often proclaim this to be his proudest accomplishment in his lifetime. Such a mighty commitment made even greater by all of lifes special needs and challenges along the way and he chose to take the high road every chance he could.

Some years ago, he had been witness to an auto accident where a truck carrying lots of clothing was quite damaged. Upon learning it would all be wasted, he suddenly had an idea for salvaging those clothes. Soon after, he drove the whole family down in the station wagon with the dog into the Baja of Mexico to deliver these large batches of clothing to the orphaned children living in the many missions all the while giving his own children an experience of a lifetime.

Throughout his entire lifetime he particularly enjoyed making random charitable donations of good will. More recently, he served others by driving and providing a happy-hearted taxi-service to anyone needing a ride almost anywhere through the Good Samaritans church-based group in Cape May, NJ. He did years of dedicated work with the Atlantic City Rescue mission and started his own Keep Christ in Christmas magnet campaign, intended as a St. Annies parish fundraiser, which ultimately became a personal crusade.

Those lucky enough to be on Jims mailing list will remember his special deliveries by the US postal service. The poignant holiday messages aimed at helping us to remember the Christian spirit of the season. Those envelopes he sent loaded with personally-noted index cards, clippings and tidbits that he wanted to share. After a while, each time that hed send one of these mailings, thered be a different colored card included with a picture of a smiling Jesus and the message Smile, Jesus loves you.

This proud Irish-Catholic man will indeed long be remembered for all of the smiles he was responsible for creating, the joys and comforts that he was so eager to lavishly provide, and the loving light he shined into our hearts.

May his trials now be over so that peace may reside within his soul for eternity.

*******************************

Rest in peace, Dad, you deserve it : )

With the deepest sense of loss ~
I will love you always and forever,
your Golden Girl,
Ellen

S. G.

November 5, 2018

My condolences to the family of James Collins. Losing a loved one brings much grief. I hope it will bring you comfort knowing our God and father cares for you during this difficult time. John 6:40

S. G.

November 5, 2018

My sincerest condolences to the Collins Family in the loss of your loved one, James Luke, and pray you find comfort in Psalms 91:2.

Bonnie Kennedy

November 5, 2018

Loved his stories !! Always there to help, another great loss to Last House On The Block. God Blessed Us Jim With You . Bonnie Kennedy -Villas NJ

A reminder of smiling Jesus, and now Jim will be smiling down on me with him.

Jeff Weikel

November 5, 2018

Jim was all that and a little bit more. Will carry the picture of smiling Jesus he always carried and had a spare to give to those around him, often those of us in our time of need.

Anne and Laurence Collins

November 4, 2018

Forever in our thoughts.
R.I.P. Jimmy Collins

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