Mary Frances Collis Obituary

Mary Frances Collis, 85 of Coloma, passed away Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 at Caretel Inns St Joseph.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, October 15 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Watervliet of which she was a member.  Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.  Visitation will be Monday at Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma beginning at 5:00 P.M. and concluding with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M.  Donations in memory of Mary may be given to Caring Circle Hospice.  Those wishing to leave an online message of remembrance may do so at www.duffieldpastrick.com.

Mary was born June 9, 1939 in Chicago to John and Clare Friese. She retired in 2001 from Watervliet City as their Senior Deputy Clerk. Mary was also an accomplished artist specializing in rustic still life. She owned her own art studio, Artistic Hollow, where she taught painting techniques to other artists and sold many paintings at Krasl Art Fairs.  She began volunteering at Mercy Hospital and after experiencing hospice services, she dedicated her life to volunteering for Caring Circle Hospice, receiving their Volunteer of the Year award.

Survivors include her children; John (Lhen) Collis of Pasadena, MD, Donna (David) Enochs of Coloma and James “Skip” (Rhena) Collis Jr. of Watervliet, a sister Clare Horneig of Coloma and a brother Col. (ret) William (Lek) Friese of Honolulu Hawaii.  Also surviving are eight grandchildren; Dale (Amber) Burdick, Christopher Burdick, Kassandra (Adolfo) Andrade, James Collis III, Kyana (Tony) Huang, Danny (Andrea) Poupard Jr., Josh (Amanda) Poupard, and Adam Poupard, along with 13 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband James Collis Sr. in 2008, a brother John W. Friese and sister Catharin Olson.