Shrewsbury – Ann M. Collins died at home Friday, March 13, 2015, with her family gathered by her side. She was 49.
Born Jan. 11, 1966 in New Brunswick, N.J., she was a daughter of the late Stuart Allan and Mary (Vannan) McAllister. A graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon School in 1984, she then earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Colby College and her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Worcester State University. She lived in different parts of the country, including Kansas, Georgia, and North Carolina, and Florida, and also a year abroad in England.
While on a ski holiday near Pyrenees in Europe she made the acquaintance of a UK native and Englishman Peter M. Collins. They later married Aug. 20, 1988 in Somesville on Mount Desert Island in Maine. They moved to Shrewsbury in 1989 where she quickly became integrated in the community.
Ann was an educator at Floral Street School for over 14 years. Teaching was her passion and she made an impact and difference in the lives of her students. She was also very active at the First Congregational Church where she was a member and parent volunteer of the youth committee. With a love for singing she was a former member of the church choir and director of the children’s choir, and taught piano.
Ann was an active troop leader with Girls Scouts Troop #31331, and last year took a 10-day trip to Switzerland with the troop and her daughter Jesse to enjoy the scenery and the chocolate.
In addition to her husband of 26 years, she leaves her children, Tyler C., James A. “Jamie,” and Jessica L. “Jessie” Collins, all of Shrewsbury; her brothers, Mark McAllister and his wife Mary Ann of Ellicott City, Md. And Timothy McAllister and his wife Beth of Newton; her in-laws, Michael and Betty Collins and Heather Sheldon and her husband Nick, all in England; and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends can honor and remember Ann’s life by gathering for calling hours Friday, March 27, from 4-8 p.m., in Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center, and again Saturday, March 28 in the First Congregational Church, 19 Church Rd., where her Funeral Service will be celebrated at 11 a.m. The Rev. Eric Wefald and the Rev. Lynne Dolan will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, you may honor Ann’s memory with a contribution to UMass Center for Cancer Care, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655; the Shrewsbury High School Music Association, 64 Holden St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545; or the Girl Scouts.
