Obituary of Conchita Ryan Collins

Conchita Ryan Collins, A Woman of Letters

Conchita Ryan Collins of Glen Ridge, 88, died yesterday of pulmonary failure at Bright Side Manor in Teaneck.  Born in New York, she lived most of her life in South Orange, where she attended Marylawn  until her marriage to Gene Collins, who was public relations director for Seton Hall University until his death in 1988.  Mrs. Collins served for 20 years as a lector in the Catholic Church and and as a radio reader for the blind.  She was a frequent writer of letters to national magazines, newspapers and journalism reviews, having begun as a college senior with a letter published in Newsweek.  So many of her letters were published over the years that she is listed in three Who’s Who editions, including Who’s Who in Women of the world.

Mrs. Collins is survived by six children: Patrick T.(Juliette) of Morristown, Eugenia (Brian) Finlay of Montclair, Andrew J. (Patricia) of Flemington, Maria (Thomas) McCartney of New Milford, Kieran M. (Melissa Wesner) of Verona and Alicia S. Collins (Ronen Trincher) of Montclair and grandchildren Victoria and Sarah Collins, Stephen and Alex Collins, Siobhan Finlay, Siena and Declan Collins and Asher Collins Trincher and great-grandson Xavier Collins.  She is predeceased by a son, John L. Collins and a daughter Amanda E. Collins.

A mass of Christian Burial will be offered at the St. Theresa of Calcutta Parish, Immaculate Conception Church, 30 North Fullerton Avenue Montclair at 10:30AM on Saturday followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. Arrangments under the directions of the Hugh M. Moriarty Funeral Home in Montclair.