Joan Collins, 84, of Munster, IN passed away on Thursday, February 8, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by daughters, Mary (Glenn) Milos, Peggy (Gary) Masse and Eileen (Doug) Sheets; son, Marty (Trish) Collins; grandchildren, Lynn, Michael (Allie), Ray Jr, Danny (Kat), Michelle (John Paul), Alyssa, Tony, Megan, Mikayla, Katie, Michael, Molly & Jimmy; great granddaughters, Ava, Collins, and Annabelle; great grandsons Ace, MJ, and Rudy; sister, Alberta Brown. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Martin J. Collins, her daughter Kathleen (Ray) Eisbrenner, her parents, Albert and Helen Hap and her sister Barbara Kippes.

Joan was a graduate of Bishop Noll Institute Class of 1957, then attended Alverno College. Joan and her husband, Marty, were extremely proud of their children, 4 engineers and 1 nurse.

In their young adult years, Joan and Marty were proud to have participated in Cursillo, a Catholic retreat focused on teaching laypeople to be effective Christian leaders.  It was during this retreat that Joan and Marty honed their Christian leadership skills and developed many of their closest lifelong friendships.

A devoted and faith-filled volunteer, Joan demonstrated commitment to giving back to others.  Joan was a founding supporter of the Share Foundation, taking a lead role in their annual BlackTie Gala and Leprechaun Hunt.  Joan was also a 50+ year member of St. Thomas More Church, where she volunteered as a teacher of religious education, delivered for Meals on Wheels, and served at the St. Joseph Soup Kitchen.  Joan also actively volunteered for the St. Thomas More School cafeteria, Girls Scouts, Carmelite Home for Boys, St. Margaret Hospital, and more.

In her “spare time” while raising her family, Joan ran a small family business, Holiday Enterprises.  Joan and Marty owned a series of Winnebago motor homes which she rented to other families when not used by her own.  This enterprise funded numerous family vacations as well as facilitated many “Family Campouts”, weekend camping trips to Jellystone Park that were attended by many of their close friends and neighbors.  During retirement Joan enjoyed travelling with Marty and other friends, going to grandchildren’s school and afterschool activities, hosting grandchildren and grand dogs, and socializing with her friends at Hartsfield Village. Always an avid reader, Joan read non-stop during her later years.

Joan’s family will be forever grateful for the dedicated team at the Hospice of the Calumet Area and the Riley House for their unwavering care and compassion.

Friends may visit with the family on Friday, February 16, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 pm at Kish Funeral Home, 10000 Calumet Ave. Munster, IN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 10:00 am at St. Thomas More Church, 8501 Calumet Ave. Munster, IN.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the SHARE Foundation (sharefoundation.org) or Hospice of the Calumet Area (hospicecalumet.org) in her memory would be appreciated.

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