Helene Agnes Collins

She was born June 8, 1923 to immigrant parents and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa where she lived until the age of 18. She went to New York and worked as a hostess at a restaurant where she met Olivia de Havilland who encouraged her to try modeling. Olivia gave her the name of her photographer and she became a model for a short time. From there she went to Las Vegas, Nevada where she married the love of her life, Capt. James Melton Collins, Jr. While her husband served as a fighter pilot in the Air Force, she was a member of the Officer Wives Club. She was involved in many charitable activities and joined a women’s bowling league. She and her husband also enjoyed golfing, fishing, boating and camping. They moved to Texas in 1968 where she found work as an Assistant Manager for Trafalgar Square Apartments and then, Oak Hollow Apartments. She grew up Catholic but in 1980 she and her husband joined and became members of St. John’s United Methodist Church. She loved to go to Las Vegas where she always seemed to come home with cash in her pocket. She loved watching football, especially the Cowboys, the Steelers and the Longhorns. She loved to eat, especially her son-in-law’s cooking. She loved her family fiercely, especially all the kids, the grandkids, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and great-great nieces and nephews and her great-grandchild Alexis. She loved her birds and her dog Trixie, who preceded her in death. We will miss her dearly. She was a force. You didn’t mess with grandma as she was known affectionately by all her family.

She is preceded in death by her husband, James M. Collins, Jr., parents, Joseph Bascovsky, Agnes Tomko Bascovsky; brothers, Edward Stephen Bascovsky, Walter B. Bascovsky, Joseph A. Bascovsky; sisters, Mary Bascovsky, Veronica Bascovsky, Helen Bascovsky Poland, Alice Jean Bascovsky, Dorothy Simerly Bascovsky, and Agnes Bascovsky. She is survived by her children, Robert A. Collins, Janice K. George, son-in-law, Danny George; grandchildren, Charles Kristopher Collins, Jennifer Kathleen Collins; great-grand child Alexis Renae Smith, step-grandchildren, Justin Haupt, Emma Haupt, Alainna Haupt, Nolan Haupt, Christian George, Michael George and several great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. with funeral services immediately following at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home. Interment will be at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery.

In honor of her great heart, if you would like to make a donation in her name, please send to:

Fransican Friars of the Atonement

Graymoor

P.O. Box 301

Garrison, NY 10524-0301

OR

St. John’s United Methodist Church

2140 Allandale Rd,

Austin, TX 78756