Frances M. Collins, 94, of Barrington, Illinois, died on May 10, 2022, at Joanne’s House hospice care in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Funeral services will be held May 25, 2022, at 11:00 am at Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Rev. Philip Peterson, Pastor of Stavanger Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 10:00 am until the start of the service.
Frances M. Collins was born to Arnold and Edith (Erickson) Olson, of Seneca, Illinois, on February 22, 1928. She grew up on the family farm with her two brothers, Gene and Clair (Kay) Olson, eventually graduating from Seneca High School in 1946. She attended Michigan State University and began a career teaching first grade, even teaching in Germany for a while. Fran met the love of her life when Gene thought to introduce her to one of his army buddies he served with during the Korean War, William (Bill) Collins. The two of them married on June 29, 1963, at Trinity Lutheran in Ottawa. Fran and Bill were always active in their church and sought to honor Christ, beginning each day reading their Bibles together at the kitchen table. Both enjoyed boating and frequented The Abbey at Lake Geneva. They loved hosting family members and friends for dinner or game nights. Fran had the true gift of hospitality and entertained as if it were effortless. They loved attending concerts at Ravinia, where she brought everything for perfect lawn picnics, including a tin of homemade cookies. While Fran never had children of her own, she was like a mom to her nieces, nephews, and godchildren, and “grandma” to their kids. She (and Bill) eagerly went to every school program and recital, usually with beautiful roses to give from their gardens. They took the younger ones to Ravinia, passing along the love of music under the stars. Fran meant so much to her family that she has a namesake, with one her great-great-nieces being named Camryn Frances.
Frances is survived by her many nieces and nephews, Gary (Lynn) Olson, Greg Olson, Debbie Justice, Linda (Greg) Chellino, Terri Olson, Howard (K.J.) Olson, great nieces and nephews, Lisa (Mike) Upham, Steven (Brooke) Olson, Andrew Olson, Scot Olson, Jeff (Julie) Gaines, Timothy Justice, Jennifer (Justin) Chase, several great-great nieces and nephews, and her godchildren as well.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Maynard Tesdal, by her husband of 63 years, William Collins, her brothers Gene (Marge) Olson and Kay (Georgia) Olson, and her parents.
Pallbearers will be Steven Olson, Michael, Kyle, and Ryan Upham, Nicholas White, and Dillon Moesch. Honorary Pallbearers will be Gary, Greg, and Howard Olson, Greg Chellino, and Harv and Curt Altman.
She was laid to rest in the Garden of Devotion.