Dolores Collins, 85, of Red Bank, passed away on Wednesday evening surrounded by her loving family.

Dolores was born and raised in Bayonne, NJ and graduated from Bayonne High School. Following high school she furthered her studies graduating from Jersey City State College with a teaching degree. After college, Dolores would marry the love of her life, Dennis, in 1962. They started their family in Bayonne, but eventually moved to Holmdel to raise their family and to run the Holmdel Village Pharmacy together.

Dolores was a devout Catholic spending time as a parishioner of both St. Catherine’s church of Holmdel and St. James Church of Red Bank. She had always dreamed of becoming a florist, and remarked how she had “achieved her dream” by frequently decorating for church events at St. James with homemade floral arrangements. She treasured being a part of the St. James church family.

Throughout her life, she enjoyed traveling, especially with trips to Disney, and spending as much time as she could with grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was famous amongst anyone who encountered her for her cooking, baking, and hospitality, always making each person feel welcome and important.

Dolores is predeceased by her husband, Dennis J., and son Dennis A.

Dolores is survived by her children Denise Laffey and her husband, Terence; Debbie McGrath and her husband, Michael; and David Collins and his wife, Jamie. She is also survived by her eleven grandchildren: Marissa and her husband, Chris; Dennis W. and his wife, Nicole; Lauren and her husband, Matthew; Emma and her husband, Angelo; Rachel, Jesse and his wife, Claudia; Jack and his fiancée, Beth Ann; Kevin; Alison and her fiancée, Oscar; George; and Julia. Perhaps her greatest joy in life were her great grandchildren: Landon, Sofia, Lillian, and Nora.

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, September 6^th at 10:00 AM at St. James RC Church, 94 Broad Street, Red Bank. There will be a repass after the funeral mass.