Margaret Rose Collins

Margaret Rose Collins, affectionately known as Maggi, received her angel wings on October 14, 2023. Born in the hustle and bustle of New York City on April 18, 1952, she quickly developed an adventurous spirit, which she carried throughout her life. Her adventurous spirit led her to travel extensively, leaving footprints in Highland Lakes, New Jersey; Slate Mills, Virginia; St. Augustine, Florida; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Vandenberg AFB, California; Eden, Utah and everywhere in between. Margaret retired from a rewarding career in hospice care, a job that allowed her to display her compassionate and loving nature daily.

Margaret figured out early on that life was for living. She took the world by storm, armed only with her infectious smile and her inherent grace. She was a force of nature, vibrant, full of life, and never met a stranger. While her professional accolades as a nurse were numerous, what mattered most to her was family. She loved to garden, and cook wonderful family meals using what she had grown. Her smart and loving nature, paired with her zest for life, was contagious, inspiring us all to live life to the fullest. She was an epitome of strength, even in her most challenging times. However, her real magic was in nurturing her family and friends, her home always a haven for those in need.

Margaret leaves her love and legacy with her mother, Margaret Tarpey; her children, Erin (Scot) Shaffer, William Collins, and Laura (Scott) Sowers; her sisters, Mary (Kenny) Mortimer and Kathleen Williams; her grandchildren, Brandon (LeAnn) Davis, Laura Collins, Kyler Collins, Moira Collins, Reese Collins, Ashley Shaffer, and Brandon Shaffer; her ex-husband, Warren Collins as well as many other close family and friends. Her father, Howard Tarpey; her siblings, Patricia Tarpey, Howard Jr, and Michael Tarpey; and her grandson, Daniel Collins, preceded her death. Her memory will be kept alive by the stories they share, the laughter they remember, and the love they continue to feel for her.
In true Margaret style, she'd tell you not to cry because it's over, but to smile because it happened. Each of us touched by Margaret's life carries a piece of her adventurous, compassionate, smart, and loving spirit. Her life was a testament to the power of love, grace, and the undying human spirit. As we remember Maggi, let us honor her by living as she did, embracing every adventure, showing compassion, and loving without restraint.

Please celebrate Margaret’s life by sharing your memories, and uploading photos on her memorial page. Her spirit lives on in each of us, and in every life she touched. After all, a life lived as fully and beautifully as Maggi's deserves to be celebrated.