Susan E. Collins, a life complete

Susan E. Collins of Lewes, passed away at Country Rest Home, Greenwood, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, after a long illness. Mrs. Collins, the former Susan E. Szabo, was born Sept. 25, 1939, in York, Pa.

She received her registered nursing degree from Pennsylvania Hospital in 1961 and graduated cum laude with her bachelor of science degree in business administration from Caldwell College, Caldwell, N.J., in 1982. She initially served as a pediatric nurse with Philadelphia Children's Hospital and subsequently as a hospice nurse with the Riverside Hospital, Boonton, N.J.

Mrs. Collins, who resided in Princeton, N.J. before retiring to Lewes in 2005, was a master gardner in New Jersey and Delaware, and a former member of the Hawthorne Park Club of Sparta, N.J. and the AAUW.

Prior to 2005, she had been an avid bridge player, skier and sailor, and served as a volunteer disaster nurse with the American Red Cross. She also produced or co-produced several theatrical productions at the Barn Theatre, Montville, N.J., where she was an active member for many years, and was co-founder of and partner in Through the Looking Glass Inc., Montville, N.J., a firm that  manufactured and sold nursery room accessories.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Bruce M. Collins, also of Lewes; her son and daughter-in-law, Ross and Paige Collins, and two grandsons, Camas and Silas Collins, all of Seattle, Wash.; her daughter and son-in-law, Haley and Stephen Garcia, and two grandchildren, Bennett and Sophie Garcia, all of Millburn, N.J.; and her sister and brother-in-law, Sally and Barry Rieker of Horntown, Va.

Arrangements are private.