Obituary of Helen Collins

Helen E. Collins (March 9,1925 - December 1, 2023)

Beloved Matriarch and Friend

Helen E. Collins, 98, a longtime Staten Islander passed away peacefully at home with family by her side.

She was the the daughter of  James Derrick and Elsie Gumbs from the Island of St Martin. Helen attended McKee

High School and later worked at Willowbrook State School as a Mental Hygiene Therapy Attendant for 25 years

before retiring in 1990. In her retirement Helen became a member and volunteer at the Cassidy - Coles Senior

Center where she received recognition from the State Attorney General Elliott Spitzer’s office in May 1999 and

Assemblyman John Lavelle’s office in March 2003, for enhancing the lives of senior citizens. Helen was always the

center of attention and the life of the party whom her many friends referred to as “the QUEEN”

She enjoyed playing card games, bingo, pokeno, dance, music and Chinese auctions. She also traveled a number of

Times to St. Martin, Cape Charles Virginia, Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Helen was a past member of the

Church of Assumption and also attended services at Second Baptist Church in Rahway, N.J., Brooklyn Tabernacle

and Calvary Baptist Church. Her favorite televangelist was the late Dr Charles Stanley. She is predeceased by her

husband Thomas M. Collins and daughter Beverly Ann - Sargent. Helen is survived by her six children Marion P.

Calland, Ronald, Thomas, Kevin, David and Gregory Collins, nieces, nephews, in- laws, and a host of grandchildren

and great grand children. Her greatest joy was spending time with family and friends. We will miss her great

affection, kind heart, loving spirit and great sense of humor.

WE sincerely THANK GOD FOR HER LIFE.

Viewing will be held on Wednesday December 6, 2023 at 3pm- 7pm at Scamardella Funeral Home, Inc.

332 Broadway, Staten Island, N.Y. (718) 981-6622

Burial will take place on Thursday December 7, 2023 at 10am at Moravian Cemetery, 2205 Richmond Road, Staten

Island.