Catherine H. Kretz Collins 1917-2010

KRETZ, COLLINS, NESLER, JARMAN, WADDICK, CARPENTIER, WEINER

Posted By: j.n. (email)
Date: 12/14/2010 at 15:34:06

Telegraph Herald
Dubuque, Iowa
Thursday, December 9, 2010

Catherine H. "Kay" Collins

Catherine H. "Kay" Collins, 93, of 2044 Jackson St., passed away at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010, peacefully at home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at Nativity Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. To celebrate Kay's life, friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., where there will be a parish wake service at 6:30 p.m.

She was born on Sept. 23, 1917, in Dubuque, daughter of John H. and Catherine (Nesler) Kretz.

She worked as a waitress at Kretz's Cafeteria before she was married.

She married John M. Collins on May 17, 1944, at Nativity Catholic Church, Dubuque; he preceded her in death on May 12, 2003.

Kay was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker.

She was a former member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and a current member of Nativity Catholic Church.

Kay enjoyed traveling, especially her three trips to Hawaii. She also enjoyed cooking and doing yard work. Kay was very quick with the one-liners. Her greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Surviving are seven children, Michael J. Collins, of Dubuque, Dennis P. (Judy) Collins, of Waconia, Minn., Timothy J. Collins, of Santa Rosa, Calif., Kevin J. Collins, of Dubuque, Maura J. Collins, of St. Louis, Colleen (Tim) Jarman, of Sioux City, Iowa, and Brian D. (Dee) Collins, of Dubuque; seven grandchildren; a sister, Joan Waddick, of Dubuque; and nieces and nephews.

She also was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Clarence Kretz; two sisters, Marian (LaVerne "Copie") Carpentier and Evelyn Weiner; and a brother-in-law, James Waddick.

A Catherine H. "Kay" Collins Memorial Fund has been established.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com.