Theresa Susan Collins

Heaven gained an angel in time for Christmas early Sunday morning, November 16th.
Theresa (Sue) Susan Collins was born on July 28th, 1955 in Whiting, Indiana to Bertha and Stephen O'Drobinak. She graduated from George Rogers Clark High School in 1973 and attended the University of Illinois in Chicago. While still in school, she was hired as a secretary by John Simpson at The Hill Firm in Chicago. Sue's ability to organize and supervise was immediately noticed and she quickly became administrator for the entire office staff of that international law firm. It was a stroke of fate which led her to meet the love of her life, Cary J. Collins, at a Colorado ski resort in 1975. Discovering they both were from "The Region," led to an enduring 50 year relationship. Sue left the law office shortly after 9/11 because she experienced a certain discomfort working on the 98th floor of the Sears Tower. She devoted the next several years to keeping Cary and his Hoffman Estates, IL. law practice running smoothly. Sue then took on the added responsibility of staff manager for the Illinois Public Pension Advisory Committee, a not for profit assisting police and firefighter pension boards throughout the state of Illinois.
Sue and Cary spent many years in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, but split time among their homes in Florida and Sue's dream home in Phelps, Wisconsin. When she finally convinced Cary to retire, they moved to Wisconsin full-time where Sue enjoyed lake life and walking several miles every day with her dogs. Last year, she even hiked through the Apostle Island Ice Caves!
Sue also enjoyed reading and writing in her journal. She loved books and spent a few hours each week working at her "fun job" at the Phelps Public Library making sure she was able to read new books as they entered the system.
Sue made everything look easy whether it was managing dozens of
people or hosting a full Thanksgiving dinner for numerous friends and family. She enjoyed hosting wonderful dinner parties and exchanging recipes, but her heart was always with her family including the dogs she and Cary adopted throughout the years. (Shadow, Pepper, Sparky, & Lady)
Ask anyone about Sue and they will mention her beautiful smile and kind, caring attitude. She was a bridge to friendship for many and always the first to welcome new people wherever she went, making sure they were introduced to everyone she knew.
Sue belonged to the St. Mary's Women's Fellowship and was an active participant at Luoto's Strong Women's class in Land O' Lakes.
Sue's favorite time of the year was Christmas and she delighted in collecting and displaying holiday decorations. During her brief bout with cancer, Sue's bedroom was decorated by her friends with those same decorations so she could spend her final hours in a winter wonderland overlooking her beloved North Twin Lake.
Cary is forever grateful for the special people who assisted Sue during the past few weeks, especially his cousin Cathleen Burrell, friends Karen Turkowski, Joyce Linowski, and Joanie Whittaker.
Sue was preceded in death by her parents Bertha & Stephen O'Drobinak, her brother Tom O'Drobinak, brothers-in-law Tom Collins, Ted Collins, Warren Freiberg, nephew Alex Collins, and Cary's parents Betty & Richard Collins of Valparaiso, Indiana.
Additionally, Sue leaves behind Cary's siblings, Tim (Alisa) of Genesee, CO, Cathy Collins of Montezuma, IN, Libby Collins (Tony) Ryan of Elm Grove, WI, and sister-in-law Palika Collins of Chicago, Il., as well as cousins Peggy Totin, Tom Burrell, Jeff (Mary) Collins, Casey Collins and numerous nieces and nephews including Marilyn Collins of Denver, Co., Robert Collins of Boulder, Co., Eric Collins of Chicago, IL, Chris (Tara) Freiberg of Lowell, IN, and Sean (Casie) Collins of Black River Falls, WI. Sue also leaves behind friends she has had for over 50 years including Terry Murglin, Lynn Weidenfeller and Judy Vecchio.
Missing Sue most will be her devoted husband of 48 years, Cary, and her dogs Boots and Daisy.
Sue's Visitation and Funeral Mass took place on Friday, November 21st at St. Mary's Parish in Phelps, WI. A Memorial Service in Indiana will be announced at a later date. The family asks in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Sue's name to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Patriot Paws, or K9s for Warriors.