August 20, 1925 – March 22, 2022
Joseph A. Collins Jr., of Reading, 96, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Born in Lawrence on August 20, 1925, he was the son of the late Joseph and Gertrude (Friel) Collins.
Joe grew up in Lawrence where he graduated from Central Catholic High School early to attend the V-12 program at Tufts College. Upon completion of the program, he entered WWII. In the war, he served in several locations including Pearl Harbor. After the war, he also served in the naval reserves for a number of years and was honorably discharged as a lieutenant. He received an undergraduate degree from Boston College and a master’s degree from Fitchburg Teachers College. He was a continual learner eventually receiving an additional master’s degree.
Joe met his wife Jane on Cape Cod. They married in 1958 and were married for 45 years of devotion before Jane’s passing. They raised three boys in their home in Reading and were delighted to have 9 grandchildren.
Joe was a teacher for over 25 years mostly in the Stoneham Public Schools. After he retired from teaching, he went on to be a Technical Writer at Raytheon for ten years before retiring again. Joe was a skier and loved spending time with Jane and his children and grandchildren at his cottage in Conway NH. He was also a sailor owning several boats and was a long-term member of the Quannapowitt Yacht Club in Wakefield. He enjoyed history and loved to plan his summer travel. Although no one kept track, he probably visited most major battlefield sites in the US for both the revolutionary and civil wars. He and Jane were lifelong devoted Catholics. In later years Joe and Jane enjoyed wintering in Naples Florida and loved hosting and visiting with their children and grandchildren.
After Jane’s passing Joe lived independently for an additional 19 years enjoying his children, grandchildren, and exceptional health and acuity.
Joseph is the beloved husband of the late M. Jane (Bridge). Cherished father of Paul Collins and his wife Stephanie of Goffstown, NH, Stephen Collins and his wife Christine of Lynnfield, MA, and Jim Collins and his wife Tricia of Windham, NH. Loving grandfather of Cayla, Timothy, Shelley, Danielle, David, Chris, Caroline, James, and Patrick. Dear brother of the late Bill Collins and Bob Collins.
Family and friends are kindly invited to gather and share memories with the family on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in St. Agnes Church 186 Woburn St. READING from 9 am to 9:45 am followed by a Funeral Mass Celebrating Joseph’s Eternal Life at 10 am. Interment with Military Honors will be in Woodend Cemetery, Reading.
Please consider donations in memory of Joseph to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 North Randolph Street, Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203. nmcrs.org.
