Kelly Garcia Collins

On Monday, June 24, 2024, Kelly Lorraine Collins neé Garcia left the largest crater in the lives and hearts of those who knew and loved her. She has joined her former husband, Jeremiah Collins, her father and mother and many other wonderful souls who have cherished her as well. Kelly is survived by her daughters Alexandra and Samantha Collins, as well as her siblings, and many nephews, nieces, and cousins, not to mention many lifelong friends who were like family to her. She leaves behind broken hearts on multiple continents on this planet we call Earth. Kelly was a gypsy spirit who filled the lives of all who knew her with love, joy, and a grace all her own with just her smile alone. She lived her life the way she wanted, and the world be damned, with a bravado and courage no one could match. She was the kind of person to stare the Devil in the face, and win! She was a citizen of the world, American born, Mexican by descent and where she grew up, French at heart, with an Italian soul. She filled a room before she even arrived at the location. A gourmand and an amazing cook she loved to live and eat and dance through the turmoils of life. Her door to life was open to all who chose to join her. A graduate of UC Berkeley, her daughters follow her in the UC tradition. Education, reading and literature were always important to her. Her favorite book was Cien Años de Soledad by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and she lived her life much in that Latin American magical realism he created. Her special kind of magic will be missed by all. Kelly lived her life to the fullest, and in the words of Frida Kahlo " I don't want a happy ending. I want a life full of happy moments, because at the end, everything is sad." ("No quiero un final feliz. Quiero una vida llena de momentos felices, porque al final todo es triste."). Dormi bene mia bella Principessa.

There will be a wake on July 8, 2024 at Sunset View Cemetery and Mortuary in El Cerrito from 11 am to 3 pm. A mass will be held at St. Jerome's Catholic Church in El Cerrito on July 9, 2024 at 10 am, followed by a reception.

Here is the Go Fund Me link to support the funeral costs and the education of Kelly's daughters Alex and Sam

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-kelly-support-her-daughters__;!!LQC6Cpwp!rw8-ZMQbSokAqddX_D67GLeFkd8wE2ZgKgHkALDD4bYUPxvZElFu7aIX1h4ilgSlEMqBXbdKGY2rKesVHodDGIcGp9YfsgTrrw$