Frances D. (Doronsky) Collins

Shrewsbury - Frances D. Collins passed peacefully, surrounded by her family and an incredible legacy of love and a life well lived, on Saturday, August 24, 2024. She was 100 years young. Her family wishes that she could have given them 100 more.

‘She is a valiant woman as her roots are firmly planted. The kingdom is within; her heart, treasure-filled.’ – this excerpt from the Book of Proverbs 31 is a perfect description of how our beloved Mom and Granny lived her years. 

Frances Mary Doronsky was born December 18, 1923, in Cleveland, Ohio a daughter of the late John S. And Mary (Vaczi) Doronsky. Her childhood during the Great Depression shaped the rest of her life, including her infamous tactics for saving and re-using food, household items, and tin foil! 

A graduate of Ursuline Academy and member of the Greatest Generation, she set eyes on a handsome young G.I. from Boston named Eugene J. Collins at a canteen dance, and after a short courtship, he asked her what she “thought about getting married.” Fran let him sweat it out for a few days before Gene called back to get her final response – and once she agreed to become Mrs. Collins, she married Gene on October 11, 1947, left Ohio and moved to Massachusetts sight unseen to begin her new life. 

Fran worked as secretary for Cleveland Sales | Clark Controller Co. before staying at home to raise her six children. They lived in Spencer, Gardner and moved to Shrewsbury in 1962 and after 52 years of marriage, building a beautiful, faith-based life and family, Gene passed away on July 29, 1999. 

As is to be expected from a life of this caliber, there were cornerstones to Fran’s life that reflected her indescribable grace and capacity for love. First was family, the collective loves of Fran’s life, who cherished her right back. We will miss her baked goods, her goody cabinet, her songs for babies, her back tickles (the best in the world!), and her eagerness to hear updates on the dating lives of all. 

In addition to her husband, Eugene, she is predeceased by her sons, Michael E. Collins and John T. Collins and her brother, John R. Doronsky. We are comforted by knowing that she will see them again and know that the first words from her sons and husband will be: 'What took you so long?!'

She leaves her children, Joseph P. Collins (Michelle) of Waltham, Patricia C. Wheeler (Robert) of Hanover, Kathleen C. Traynor (Michael) of Shrewsbury, and James F. Collins (Susan) of Shrewsbury; daughters-in-law, Lydia Collins of San Rafael, California and Sarah Collins of Sterling, VA.; her grandchildren, Michael Collins Jr., Courtney Collins, Kevin Collins (Candice), Patrick Collins (Margaret); and Molly Collins; Peter Collins (Kate), Daniel Collins, Teresa Collins (Dominic), Anthony Collins and Catherine Collins; Sean Collins (Kendra) and Kelly Collins; Ashley Wheeler (Fabricio), Erica Mugford (Aaron), Brian Wheeler (Kristina), Elizabeth Traynor (Stephen) and Christopher Traynor (Victoria); her many beautiful great-grandchildren; nieces & nephews; and countless loved ones she collected along the way. 

Another cornerstone to Fran’s life was her incredible faith, which carried her through times painful and celebratory, and remained steadfast throughout her days. Heaven was truly a joyful prospect for her and we can only assume the angels were singing from high as she joined their ranks.

With her faith at the forefront and a guiding light all her life, she was very active in her parish community at Saint Mary’s Parish of Shrewsbury. She served on the parish council and as secretary for over 22 years. Fran loved being a Eucharistic minister, lector, greeter, choir member, advisor to the CYC program, volunteer at the parish school and teacher in the CCD. She treasured the friendships and destinations as a member of the Jet Set Group and Women of St. Mary’s.

Friends were a final cornerstone to Fran’s beautiful life. No matter where she lived, she made a steadfast community. Fran was a founding member of the Shrewsbury Council on Aging where she served on its board as secretary. She volunteered at Spring Street School and was a senior greeter at Shrewsbury High School. And a special thanks to her community at Southgate, which was a home beyond dreams for Fran in her later years. 

Aside from all these activities and her large family she loved the read of a good book, dancing, watching Notre Dame and Boston sports – particularly tickled by the Patriots, Bill Belichick, and that lovable Rob Gronkowski - and yoga, delighting in showing off her 'tree pose' well into her 80's!

We are honored and blessed to have had you for as long as we did and miss you incredibly. If all who read this live their lives with half as much grace, faith, and love as Frances Collins, you will have succeeded. 

We would like to acknowledge the compassionate care and support she received from Denise Roskamp, MD and her special staff at Home Helpers Home Care of Metrowest, Micha Shalev, Ben Herlinger and Renee Kublbeck RN and loving staff at the Oasis at Dodge Park and Mishka Long RN and the staff of Notre Dame Hospice.

Family and friends will honor Fran's life by gathering for an evening wake on Wednesday, August 28th from 5 to 7 p.m. in Saint Mary's Church, 640 Main Street, Shrewsbury. Her funeral Mass celebrated Thursday at 10 a.m. in the church. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to Saint Mary’s Parish, 18 Summer Street, www.stmarysparish.org or Saint Anne’s Human Services, 130 Boston Turnpike, St. Anne's Parish - Shrewsbury, MA (stannesparish.org) https://stannesparish.org both Shrewsbury, MA 01545. 

Arrangements by James + John Heald of The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, Waltham.