Ms. Mary Collins passed away at Ascension Columbia- St. Mary’s Hospital in Mequon, WI on April 15, 2026. She was 93 years old.

Mary was born in Oshkosh, WI on August 24, 1932, the daughter of Charles and Marie (nee Grimes) Derby. The family lived on a farm in the Fox Valley area and Mary attended local schools, furthering her education in Chicago, IL to earn her Nursing Degree. Emphasizing her love of art and literature, Mary made time to earn a bachelor’s degree from Cardinal Stritch College in fine arts in 1984.

Mary was united in marriage with Thomas W. Collins in 1954. Together they were blessed with nine children. The family lived in Milwaukee, WI before settling in Cedarburg, WI in 1957. The couple later parted ways and Mary moved to Grafton, WI. She moved to Port Washington, WI in 2020.

Mary loved her career as a Registered Nurse; she helped deliver countless babies during her 30 years in practice. Following her retirement from nursing, she opened Care With A Heart, a home health care agency which matched caregivers with clients. She stepped back from the organization in 2015 at the age of 84.

A devout Catholic, Mary was currently a member of St. John XXIII Parish, and was a former member of St. Joseph Parish in Grafton and St. Francis Borgia Parish in Cedarburg.

Mary was a member of Aglow International, a Catholic prayer and evangelical network, and was often a greeter at monthly meetings and very active in their prayer chain. She was also a member of the Wisconsin Polka Boosters, and supported them at multiple events in Wisconsin and surrounding states. In her quiet time, Mary enjoyed crocheting and knitting, making blankets for her many grandchildren and often donating others she made. She listened to Relevant Radio and prayed the rosary along with them every evening .

Survivors include her children Michael, Brian, Cynthia, Mark, Craig, Matthew and Mary Pat, as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She is further survived by brother Tom Derby, sister Gertrude Kunitz, numerous nieces and nephews, other family and friends. Mary is preceded in death by an infant daughter, and son Donald Collins, former husband Thomas Collins, sister Sue Derby and brothers Patrick and Charles Derby.

Private family services were held at St. Joseph Parish in Grafton. Mary was laid to rest in St. Joseph Cemetery, Grafton.

Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com .