Sr.Roberta Collins, C.S.J.P. Obituary (1922

Sister Roberta Collins, CSJP, 1922 - 2014 Sister Roberta Collins CSJP (Margaret Mary) died December 5, 2014 in Bellevue, WA. Sister Roberta and her identical twin Sister Sheila, were born on August 2, 1922, in Galway, Ireland. Her parents, John and Mary Collins, had eight children. In 1951 the Collins twins entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in Newry, Northern Ireland and ten months later traveled to Bellingham, Washington to begin the novitiate. Another sibling, Sister Brigid Collins, CSJP( now deceased), was a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace, Sister Roberta received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Mt. Angel College, Oregon, Masters of Education and Masters in Religious Education from Seattle University. Her educational ministry began as a primary teacher in Catholic schools in the Seattle Archdiocese: Immaculate Conception, Mount Vernon; St. Rose, Longview; St. Margaret, Seattle; Sacred Heart, Bellevue; She also taught in Catholic schools in British Columbia and California. In 1976 Sister Roberta became the Director of Catechetical Ministry in St. Catherine Laboure Parish, San Diego. In 1987 her twin Sister Sheila joined her to establish the religious education program in the newly-formed St. Jerome Parish in San Diego, California. From then until their recent move to St. Mary-on-the-Lake, they worked tirelessly ministering to the people at St. Jerome's in many aspects of parish life beyond catechetical ministry: R.C.I.A, children's liturgies, sacrament preparation, and liturgical ministries. They also prepared food baskets for the poor, storing the food in their own residence. Sisters Roberta and Sheila continued to share their joy and Irish faith in God with those at their residence at St. Mary-on-the-Lake. "I am grateful that I was born into a strong Catholic family where religion was a priority," Sister Roberta said at her 60th Jubilee in 2012. "My sister, Sheila, entered religious life with me and I have shared every important activity of my life with her." The Vigil Service for Sister Roberta Collins is Wednesday, December 10, 2014, 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary-on-the-Lake in Bellevue, WA. The Mass of Christian Burial will also be at St. Mary-on-the-Lake on Thursday, December 11, 2014, 11 a.m. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. at Holyrood Catholic Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace Retirement Fund, PO Box 248, Bellevue, WA 98009. Hoffner Fisher & Harvey Guest book at harveyfuneral.com To send a flower arrangement in memory of Sr.Roberta Collins, C.S.J.P., please click here to visit our sympathy store.