Helen Polonus Purks Collins died November 22, 2014 at her home surrounded by her husband Jim and her children. She was born November 3, 1942 in Sharon, PA, to Margaret Roch and the late Harold A. Polonus.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 P.M., Monday, November 24, 2014 at The Church of the Holy Family in Columbus, GA. Burial immediately follows in Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive guests beginning at 12:45 at the church.
She was predeceased by her first husband Dr. William Warren Purks, Jr., brother John Polonus and sister Annelle Devlin.
In addition to her husband Jim, she is survived by her son Bob Purks; Kate Purks Sandahl (Trent) and Meg Purks Godfrey (Jon); step-children Jim Collins, Jr. (Vicki); Steve Collins (Meg); Colleen Lea (Jeff) and Shelly Kehoe.
Helen had fifteen grandchildren: Carter and Ben Sandahl; Helen Clare and Elizabeth Alice Godfrey; Clay, Kristen, Anna, and Brenden Collins; Ally, Samantha, Chase, and Daniel Collins; Caitlin, Shannon, and Kerrianne Lea.
She is survived by her mother Margaret Polonus and siblings: Ann Heckel (Roger); Susan Mucha (Edgardo); Maribeth Quigley (James); Peggy Polonus; Kathleen Waddell (Thomas); William Polonus. She also has two sisters-in-law: Lee Polonus and Maureen Polonus. Also surviving is her brother-in-law John E. Purks and his wife Linda. Mrs. Collins has numerous nieces and nephews.
After her graduation from Notre Dame (MS Mathematics), she taught high school Math at Brookstone School in Columbus, GA. In 1989, she was co-founder and Executive Director of the highly successful Columbus Regional Mathematics Collaborative at Columbus State University.
During her retirement, Helen was a volunteer grant writer for non-profits in Columbus, GA and for Lake Oconee, GA. As a community volunteer, she served as a Board of Director for Brookstone School, a Chairman of the Board for the Stewart Community Home in Columbus, GA, Vice-Chair of the Flannery O’Connor Andalusia Foundation in Milledgeville, GA and a member of the Advisory Board for the St. Joseph’s Child Development Center in Fort Mitchell, Al.
A Memorial Service will be held at Christ Our King and Savior Catholic Church, Greensboro, GA on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at 11:00 A.M.
Donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Child Development Center, 1444 Hwy 165, Fort Mitchell, AL 36856, the Stewart Community Home, 1125 15th St, Columbus, GA 31901, Flannery O’Connor Andalusia Foundation, 2628 N Columbia St, Milledgeville, GA 31061, Christ Our King and Savior Council for Catholic Women, 6341 Lake Oconee Parkway, Greensboro, GA 30642.
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