Margaret E. Collins, 79 of Dallas, passed away Monday afternoon, February 15, 2015 at The Meadows Nursing Center, Dallas.

Margaret Edith Collins, born December 4, 1936, in Wilkes-Barre, PA to the late Edgar & Edith (Barr) Gartley, hated to be called Margaret and went by Mimi from the time she was little. Her long streak of avoiding marriage ended on December 4, 1971, when she said “I do” to the love of her life and her biggest aggravation, Joe Collins. The date was chosen in the hope that he would remember either her anniversary or birthday. It was a solid plan that didn’t always work.

She had many different jobs, but none mattered more than the job of being a mother. She was the kind of mother that had homemade cookies waiting after school, but she may have forgotten to pick up a child from school on half days. It’s okay, Edie made it home eventually. She had two fantastic daughters that loved her more than anything, Edith and Heather. A fortune teller once told her she would have twins, which kind of came to be in 2000, when her first set of grandchildren, Madeline “Madie” and Colin were born, and again in 2003, when her second set of grandchildren, Liam and Olivia, were born. They became her greatest joy in life. To this day we’re not sure who the worse influence on who was. From poker games to teaching each other new curse words, it was an anything goes relationship filled with unconditional love. This was not the same women that raised her daughters.

In addition to her daughters and grandkids, Mimi is survived by her son-in-law type person, Joe Kwiatkowski, who made her the perfect cup of tea every day, sister Phyllis Carey, who she loved arguing with, sister-in-law Mary Gartley, who she never argued with, and brother-in-law Walter Evans, whose camper at Rehoboth Beach was her favorite vacation spot, as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edith and Edgar Gartley, sisters baby Jacqueline and Shirley Evans, brothers Barr and Edger Gartley, and loving husband, Joseph Collins, whose birthday was celebrated by her joining him in heaven on February 15, 2016.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, February 19, 2016 at 7:00 pm at the Corcoran Funeral Home, Inc., 20 South Main Street Plains, PA 18705, with Father Joseph A. Kearney, officiating. Interment will be held at the convenience of the family in Mount Greenwood Cemetery, Trucksville. Friends and family may call Friday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to the Back Mountain Memorial Library 96 Huntsville Road Dallas, PA 18612.