Mary DeRosa Collins

Mary DeRosa Collins, born September 5, 1936, died peacefully June 9, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her loving family and holding the hand of her husband, the love of her life of 64 years, Charles Michael Collins.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, the first born to her parents Joseph and Elizabeth DeRosa, a union worker and garment district seamstress, and grew up there with her younger brothers Alfred (Betty) DeRosa, Santino (Lorraine) DeRosa, and sister Elizabeth (Salvatore) DeLeone. She was the apple of her father’s eye, with her Ipana smile, love for life and curious sense of adventure.

What started in November 1961 as a blind date with ‘some guy from Chicago’, led to a wedding in February, with Mary and Charles as true partners in all they did throughout their 64 years of marriage. Jobs took them from Evanston, IL, to Abington, PA, to Satellite Beach, FL, and settling in Winter Park, FL in 1972. They raised three daughters, Christina (David) Johnson of Tallahassee, Linda (Keith) Flannery of Winter Park, and Susan Collins of Deltona. She was a fierce mamma bear and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her family, and they for her. And what truly brought her joy was being a grandmother to the apple of her eye, Christopher Michael Flannery of Colorado Springs.

If born in later years, Mary would surely have soared to the position of Fortune 500 CEO, with her entrepreneurial spirit, as evidenced by her many activities and achievements. From selling AVON products door-to-door with her three young daughters in tow, to leadership positions at the Winter Park Garden Club, and her service within St. Margaret Mary Church, Mary instilled kindness, humor, compassion, mixed with a keen business acumen in everything she endeavored.

Mary most enjoyed working as the school secretary at Brookshire Elementary School, where she looked forward to seeing “her kids” every day. It later came full circle when those grown kids had children of their own attending Brookshire. Everyone loved Mrs. Collins and to this day, someone will share a story about her teachings … and her playful antics.

She was a lifelong learner, a voracious reader who was never without a novel she was enjoying. She took evening classes from cake decorating (a family favorite), to bread baking, needlepointing, crocheting, floral arranging, and scrapbooking – just to name a few. Her friends often found a handmade baby’s blanket to welcome a new life into the world.

Mary's singsong greeting, “Hey Love" whether in person, on the telephone, or left as a message is one of many blessings her family and friends will remember in her voice. And another? That Mary knew she was loved and admired each and every day – not just the end of her days.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Brookshire Elementary School Fund through the Orange County Public Schools website, or to your favorite cause, in her name.

A Visitation will be held on Monday, June 15, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Baldwin-Fairchild Goldenrod/Winter Park Funeral Home (7520 Aloma Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32792).

A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 10:30 am at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church (5300 Old Howell Branch Road, Winter Park, FL 32792).