Alma (Jones) Collins

Alma (Jones) Collins, a resident of Saint Mary Home in West Hartford, widow of the late Daniel Francis Collins died on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 at Saint Mary Home. Born in New London, CT she was the daughter of the late Anne (Harrington) Jones and Walter Melville Jones, formerly of Norwich, CT. She was Valedictorian of her class at Norwich Free Academy and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Connecticut College of Women, where she was President of the College Press Board. She received a Master's Degree in English at Trinity College and completed a sixth year at Boston University and the University of Connecticut for national certification as a secondary school counselor. A member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international honor society for women educators, she is listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. Her book Danielle at the Wadsworth, published in 2004, was dedicated to her beloved husband Daniel Francis Collins. Following her 25 year career as a teacher and counselor at Hall High School and Conard High School in West Hartford, she wrote art-related articles for numerous national magazines, including Architectural Digest, Connoisseur, House Beautiful, Colonial Homes, Home Decorating, and Antiques Journal with Architectural Digest cover stories translated into Japanese and Italian editions. As President of Arts Universal Research Associates, she represented many artists and worked with several international companies in promotional work and publication as well as in finding artists for specific company projects. Her recorded interview with Salvador Dali is included in the archives of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Predeceased by her devoted husband and her loving sister Audrey Jones Burton, she leaves her dear close relatives Ruth Ann Kuhn, Sally Kealy, Sean and Susan Kealy and family, Timothy and Kristin Kealy and family, Sr. Eleanor Spring, Paul and Connie Bueker and family, Kathryn Spring, Henry and Carol Spring and family, and Gregory and Mary McMahon and their daughter, Kathryn Collins McMahon. The family wishes to thank those who provided comfort to Alma during her final years. Relatives and friends may meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home, 136 South Main Street, West Hartford prior to the Mass of Christian Burial at the Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 17, 2015. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford. Memorial contributions may be made to McAuley Residents' Fund, 275 Steele Road, West Hartford, CT 06117; the Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle, 872 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06119 or to a charity of the donor's choice. For directions and online condolences, please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com.