Elizabeth Fitzpatrick Collins

Elizabeth Fitzpatrick Collins, age 91, of Bel Air, Maryland, passed away February 21, 2015 at Forest Hill Health and Rehabilitation Center. The oldest of six children, Elizabeth was born January 24, 1924 to John T. and Elizabeth Fahey Fitzpatrick of Belcamp, Maryland. She attended St. Margaret's School in Bel Air; and graduated from St. Stephen's High School in Bradshaw. She attended The Bard-Avon School of Secretarial Science in Baltimore. While working as a secretary at the Aberdeen Proving Ground during World War II, she met her future husband, Joseph Collins, stationed at APG. The couple married on August 24, 1946 and settled in his hometown of New Haven, Connecticut. Elizabeth worked as a secretary at the former Quinnipiac College in Hamden, Connecticut; and at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven. Following her husband's admittance to the Veterans Administration Hospital at Perry Point in Cecil County, Maryland, Elizabeth returned to Bel Air where she served as a volunteer with several organizations including the American Red Cross (member of the Board of Directors); and St. Margaret's Church (Eucharistic minister at the Upper Chesapeake Medical Center). Her husband passed away on December 31, 1986.

Elizabeth leaves behind her daughters, Patricia Granfield Finan and her husband, William, of Washington, DC; Mary Catherine Hasemeier and her husband, A. Christopher, of Goodview, Virginia; and Susan J. Collins, of Abingdon, Maryland. Her survivors also include her two brothers, Robert Fitzpatrick and his wife, Nancy, of Bel Air, Maryland; and Richard Fitzpatrick and his wife, Mary Anne, of Richmond, Virginia. Also Elizabeth's' grandchildren, Erin C. Granfield of Washington, D.C. and Sean M. Finan, of Silver Spring, MD; and R. Patrick Granfield and his wife, Kerry, of Alexandria, VA; and Jennifer Hasemeier Dammeyer and her husband, David, of Severna Park, MD; great-granddaughter, Natalie K. Dammeyer of Severna Park, MD; great-grandson, Thomas K. Granfield of Alexandria, VA; along with several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Elizabeth was preceded in death by her son, Joseph Jr., brothers, Daniel P., John T. and William B. Fitzpatrick; and a son-in-law, Richard P. Granfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Boys Town National Headquarters, 200 Flanagan Blvd., P.O. Box 8000, Boys Town, NE 68010.