Barbara Cecilia Collins

Barbara Cecilia Collins was born into the Donaldson Clan on November 20, 1937, 6th of the 9 children of Ralph Donaldson and Josephine Monarski. Ralph was a lumberjack and road builder. Josephine raised a very tightknit family.

 In 1957, the business of Firestone Tires took its young salesman, Nate Collins, to Eau Claire, Wisconsin where he looked up his classmates, Robert and Pat Donaldson, from the College of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota). Their sister Mary Jo was already a Benedictine nun, and their sister Elizabeth was engaged to be married to John Maloney. Donaldson girls Bridget and Rita were youngsters at home. Barbara Donaldson was just the right age. She was lively, smart and looked like Judy Garland (remember Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz?). Nate and Barbara married on December 28, 1957, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Eau Claire, one block from the Donaldson’s home. 

 The Collins newlyweds moved to Nate’s hometown of Spring Valley, Minnesota. Son Dan arrived 9 months later followed by Bridget a year after that. The young Collins Family hatched a plan to leave the snow and mosquitos behind. They moved to the then small town of Phoenix, Arizona in late 1959. Son Paul arrived in 1961 followed in quick succession by Ted and Josephine. At the ripe old age of 34, Barbara’s baby delivery days concluded with the birth of Christopher. All 6 Collins children attended west Phoenix Catholic grade schools, St. Louis and Ss. Simon & Jude, and then Xavier, Brophy and Washington High Schools.

 Nate Collins worked for many years at Valley National Bank (now Chase Bank) while the task of raising 6 children largely fell to Barbara. Her life was devoted to rearing her 6 children, serving her Church and helping her friends and neighbors. She kept a close eye on her mischievous children, often sniffing out nefarious plots well before they could be put into action. Barbara’s love and devotion to her siblings, children and 15 grandchildren never wavered. She kept track of everyone, especially anyone needing special attention or Barbara’s selfless kindness. 

 Barbara joined God, her parents and her 6 siblings on December 24, 2024. She departed from her husband Nathan just 4 days shy of their 67th wedding anniversary. Also left behind are her children Dan (wife Roseanne and grandchildren Sean, Clare, Anne Marie, and Michael Collins and Katherine Yalung), Bridget Hull (and grandchildren Mary and Conor), Paul (wife Renata and grandchildren John and Kevin Collins, and Meghan Catalanatto and great grandson Anthony), Ted (wife Meghan and grandchildren Madeleine, Rory and Katherine), Josephine Jones (husband AJ and grandchildren Colin and Maeve) and Jesuit priest Christopher. 

A viewing will begin at Brophy Chapel, 4701 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix, on Monday, December 30 at 10:00 a.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated by her son Christopher Collins, SJ the same day at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow immediately afterwards at Anderson Hall next to St. Francis Xavier Church. In lieu of flowers, the Collins Family asks that you consider a gift to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Phoenix at 420 W. Watkins Rd., Phoenix, Az 85003, www.stvincentdepaul.net.