Irene L. (Albonesi) Collins

Irene Laura (Albonesi) Collins passed away quietly and peacefully in the early morning hours on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. Irene was born in Holyoke on September 7, 1922 to Henry E. and Laura (Laverty) Albonesi. Irene was raised in Holyoke and graduated from Sacred Heart High School. She married Roland D. Collins in 1946 and spent the next 24 years supporting Roland and his career in the United States Air Force. She raised their family on several Air Force bases across the United States and Puerto Rico. Roland retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1970 and the couple returned to their hometown of Holyoke. In retirement, Irene and Roland enjoyed line dancing until Roland’s death in 1999. Irene continued line dancing and enjoyed many years of friendship with the people they met. She also cherished her 50-year friendship with her neighbor, Marlene Fortin. As Irene got older, she enjoyed watching outside her front window to see the pigeons flying and roosting on utility wires and the birds on her feeder. Irene was predeceased by her brothers Henry and Edward. She is survived by her children and their spouses including Mark and Georgann Collins of Wilbraham, Barbara Leja of Russell, James and Elizabeth Collins of Holyoke, Teresa and Kevin Snow of Holyoke, Mary Collins and Marc Lombard of Greenfield. Irene’s love for her family was matched only by her love for the Lord and she was the family’s powerful Prayer Warrior. She is sadly missed by her 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson, as well as many nieces and nephews. The funeral will be held on Friday, February 21st at 9:30 am at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1945 Northampton Street. Committal will follow at 11 am in the Chapel of MA Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Jericho, P.O. Box 1039, Holyoke, MA 01041.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Irene L. (Albonesi) Collins, please visit our floral store.