On April 27, Mary Jeanne (Collins) Kiley passed away surrounded with the love of her children, one week shy of her 91st birthday.
She was predeceased by the “love of her life,” Myles J. Kiley, in 2023. She is survived by sons, Michael and Christopher Kiley, and daughters, Maribeth and Julie (Mark) Elder; granddaughters Katelyn (Kristin) McCall-Kiley, and Kerry (Patrick) Byrne; and great grandchildren; Kiley Rose Byrne, Myles McCall-Kiley, Keira Byrne, Mae McCall-Kiley, and Baily Byrne.
Born and raised on Walcott Road, Chestnut Hill, MA, to James and Catherine (Minahan) Collins, she was surrounded in a family that imparted a strong sense of commitment to faith, family and community which she instilled upon her children. She was an extremely proud member of the alumni of Notre Dame Academy (NDA) Roxbury, followed by Emannuel College. It was at NDA where she met and maintained her lifelong, devoted friendships with Nancy (Breen) Lawton and Grace (Nutall) Rooney.
With the “gift” of always identifying the invisible or underserved, she served as a teacher for inner city youth in Connecticut following her graduation from Emmanuel. She remained until relocating to Honolulu to marry her sweetheart.
She raised four very rambunctious children in Concord with the mentorship and community of her close-knit church friends and fellow “knitwits.” She was a woman of great fortitude, offering her time and talent whenever called upon.
Her second act involved returning to school to be certified to assist with Hospital Pastoral and Spiritual services. She humbly served with Fr. John Cannon at Emerson Hospital, Concord, and Fr. “Richard,” New England Rehabilitation Hospital, Woburn.
She and Myles returned to Plymouth fulltime upon retirement, where they enjoyed their time together on the M/V Golden Pond, walking the canal, “going for an ice cream,” rocking while watching the birds, reading, knitting and forever offering assistance when she spotted a need to fill.
Her faith was an integral part of who she was, and she never compromised in her practice. Grace was said before meals, the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be, were said before your seatbelts were fastened in the car. Her devotion to the Blessed Mother was unwavering and when she told someone she would pray for them, she did. At a young age she and her fellow Priscilla Beach “Seaweed Club” cronies conducted talent shows to raise funds to purchase the statue of the Blessed Mother that remains at St. Bonaventure today.
In addition to her children, she is survived by her brothers, Joseph (Judy) Collins, Dr. James (Michelle) Collins; devoted cousin John (Carol) Minahan; sisters-in-law, Mary Lou and Elizabeth Kiley; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, devoted friends and the loving compassionate caregivers at Newfield House and Cranberry Hospice.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place at St. Bonaventure Parish Church, Plymouth, on Friday May 2, 2025, at 11 a.m., preceded by a visitation at Cartmell-Davis Funeral Home, 619 State Street, Plymouth, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The burial will be held at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
If you are so inclined, the family requests, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to charities dear to Mom’s heart, the Poor Clare Nuns Franciscan Monastery of Saint Clare, 590 Gay St., Westwood, MA, 02090, or to the Fund for the Needy, St. Bonaventure Church, P.O. Box 996, Manomet, MA, 02345
Mom’s mantra for prolonged sadness was “laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone” – in her honor let’s keep laughing.
For more info and to sign the online guestbook please visit here.