1919
Marian
2020
Marian Bonekamp Collins
October 9, 1919 — December 3, 2020
Marian Bonekamp Collins was born 101 years ago to Joe and Hilda Jung Bonekamp. She was the oldest and last remaining sibling to Richard (Norma), Dottie (Dick) Slaughter, Angela (Charlie) Poticha, Norbert, and Eileen (aka Corky). As a teen, she worked in her father’s bakery as a cashier which ignited her financial prowess. Working as a comptometer operator at Aluminum Industries led to meeting her husband Paul M. Collins in 1937. Their first date was at a Roger Bacon alumnae dance. They married in February 1941 and remained so for 60 years until his death. Throughout their marriage Paul wrote poems about his beloved Marian. Theirs was truly a partnership. During World War II Marian and their first child (the late Gail Collins Berger), rode a train cross-country to live with Paul when he was stationed at Williams Field Army Air Corps Base in Chandler, AZ. Marian worked on base as a bookkeeper in the Officers Headquarters.
After the War, Paul and Marian bought their first home on Craig Avenue in Cheviot where their son Paul Michael (Mike) and Patricia (Trish) Ann joined big-sister Gail. In 1959 they moved to Jessup Road in White Oak. Marian volunteered throughout her life: for Providence Hospital as one of the founders of their ‘pink ladies’ group and for their yearly fundraiser, Fantasy Ball for which she made numerous beautiful evening gowns. She was an expert seamstress. For many, many years she was a regular at St. James Church office in White Oak where she counted weekly collections, and worked for the Archbishops Fund drive. She ushered at Sunday Masses, and worked on the bereavement committee well into her nineties. Her Faith was very important to her.
In 1975 her husband Paul started his own company, The Paul M. Collins Brick Company. Marian handled all the bookkeeping and accounting. One year they were audited by the IRS and after they saw her ledgers and details (pre-computers), they said it was no longer necessary to check the business records: everything was in perfect order!
Throughout her adult life, crossword puzzles, Bridge and Pinochle were her favorite pastimes, having been in multiple Bridge groups; first with husband Paul, then after his death, with friends from church. She played Pinochle at the Green Township Senior Citizens Center until the age of 97: at about the same time she gave up driving! She was an impeccable dresser, always looking regal and being the perfect lady.
With her daughter and daughter-in-law by her side, she passed away peacefully at her daughter Trisha’s house on December 3, 2020, after a six-week decline brought on by a blood clot. She had just celebrated her 101st birthday with her family in early October with carrot cake, ice cream, and of course masks! Since May 2019, she had resided at Twin Towers in College Hill.
She leaves behind son Mike (Pam), daughter Patricia “Trish” (Tom Callos) and son-in-law Fred Berger. She was loving Grandmother to Martin David (Nancy) and the late Mark Todd Berger, Adam (Tricia) Collins and the late Amber (Bob) James, Triffon (Stacey) Callos and Courtney (Scott) Dilley. She was Great-Grandmother to Sidney and Emma Berger, Jacob Yagich, Olivia Collins (Jonnie) Niesz, Anna and Isabella Wright, Paul, Ellie, and Peter Collins, Zoe and Eli Callos, Liam and Lucas Dilley, and David, Zachary, Jonah, and Gabrielle James. Numerous nieces, nephews and countless friends remain to remember her.
In early November when she was admitted to Hospice, she told one of the doctors; “Doctor, I’ve had 101 years of life and I have been blessed. What more could a person ask for?”
Marian requested that memorials be directed to her late granddaughters fund: The Amber Collins James Nursing Scholarship Endowment, UC/BlueAsh Campus, 9555 Plainfield Road, Cinti,OH 45236. Due to Covid, a future Mass will be held at St. James White Oak. You can watch her memorial service at Hodappfuneralhome.com.
Video link - Family and Friends speaking at Hodapp Funeral Home
https://youtu.be/493JbTxI83o
Video link - Marian Collins graveside funeral service at Spring Grove Cemetery * PART ONE
https://youtu.be/4NtzJvOWqnA
Video link - Marian Collins graveside funeral service at Spring Grove Cemetery * PART TWO
https://youtu.be/iVsr8QB8ufY
After the War, Paul and Marian bought their first home on Craig Avenue in Cheviot where their son Paul Michael (Mike) and Patricia (Trish) Ann joined big-sister Gail. In 1959 they moved to Jessup Road in White Oak. Marian volunteered throughout her life: for Providence Hospital as one of the founders of their ‘pink ladies’ group and for their yearly fundraiser, Fantasy Ball for which she made numerous beautiful evening gowns. She was an expert seamstress. For many, many years she was a regular at St. James Church office in White Oak where she counted weekly collections, and worked for the Archbishops Fund drive. She ushered at Sunday Masses, and worked on the bereavement committee well into her nineties. Her Faith was very important to her.
In 1975 her husband Paul started his own company, The Paul M. Collins Brick Company. Marian handled all the bookkeeping and accounting. One year they were audited by the IRS and after they saw her ledgers and details (pre-computers), they said it was no longer necessary to check the business records: everything was in perfect order!
Throughout her adult life, crossword puzzles, Bridge and Pinochle were her favorite pastimes, having been in multiple Bridge groups; first with husband Paul, then after his death, with friends from church. She played Pinochle at the Green Township Senior Citizens Center until the age of 97: at about the same time she gave up driving! She was an impeccable dresser, always looking regal and being the perfect lady.
With her daughter and daughter-in-law by her side, she passed away peacefully at her daughter Trisha’s house on December 3, 2020, after a six-week decline brought on by a blood clot. She had just celebrated her 101st birthday with her family in early October with carrot cake, ice cream, and of course masks! Since May 2019, she had resided at Twin Towers in College Hill.
She leaves behind son Mike (Pam), daughter Patricia “Trish” (Tom Callos) and son-in-law Fred Berger. She was loving Grandmother to Martin David (Nancy) and the late Mark Todd Berger, Adam (Tricia) Collins and the late Amber (Bob) James, Triffon (Stacey) Callos and Courtney (Scott) Dilley. She was Great-Grandmother to Sidney and Emma Berger, Jacob Yagich, Olivia Collins (Jonnie) Niesz, Anna and Isabella Wright, Paul, Ellie, and Peter Collins, Zoe and Eli Callos, Liam and Lucas Dilley, and David, Zachary, Jonah, and Gabrielle James. Numerous nieces, nephews and countless friends remain to remember her.
In early November when she was admitted to Hospice, she told one of the doctors; “Doctor, I’ve had 101 years of life and I have been blessed. What more could a person ask for?”
Marian requested that memorials be directed to her late granddaughters fund: The Amber Collins James Nursing Scholarship Endowment, UC/BlueAsh Campus, 9555 Plainfield Road, Cinti,OH 45236. Due to Covid, a future Mass will be held at St. James White Oak. You can watch her memorial service at Hodappfuneralhome.com.
Video link - Family and Friends speaking at Hodapp Funeral Home
https://youtu.be/493JbTxI83o
Video link - Marian Collins graveside funeral service at Spring Grove Cemetery * PART ONE
https://youtu.be/4NtzJvOWqnA
Video link - Marian Collins graveside funeral service at Spring Grove Cemetery * PART TWO
https://youtu.be/iVsr8QB8ufY
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