Tuesday
May 7th, 2024
1:48PM
Freda Joan Hellman Collins, loving mother, grandmother, sister, and mother-in-law, passed away on Oct. 21, 2018 in Cumming, GA. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, William (Woody) Franklin Collins, her daughter Carol Collins, her parents Fred and Elsie Blevins Hellman, and her sister, Juanita Hellman Christian.
Born May 9, 1933, she grew up on a farm in Eureka, Kansas, where she tended to livestock and worked in the garden along side her father. As she said, “I was the outside girl.” She learned to drive a truck at the age of twelve and would often drive into town for supplies. She loved fishing with her dad and swimming in the river by her home with all her friends.
After her marriage to Bill, she moved to New London, Connecticut while Bill served our country in the Navy. After his discharge, they returned to Kansas, where she worked for a physician for several years. Later, they moved to Springfield, Illinois where Joan volunteered her time and cared for her family.
Bill and Joan, and their children moved to Clayton, Georgia in 1978, where she worked in the office at Rabun County High School for several years. After moving to Lawrenceville, Georgia, she and Bill founded Adtech Security, where she worked until the business was sold.
In her free time, she loved gardening, cooking, knitting, and being with her family and friends.
She is survived by her son, David Collins and wife Kaye; her daughter and caregiver, Karen Collins Mastrangelo and husband Thomas; grandchildren Alex Collins, Christina Mastrangelo, and Anna Mastrangelo; two brothers, Dale Hellman and wife Pat, Eldon Hellman and Sharon Hellman, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a memorial service celebrating Joan’s life at St. Brendan's Catholic Church in Cumming, GA on November 8th, 2018 at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be given in memory of Joan to St Brendan's Catholic Church, 4633 Shiloh Rd, Cumming, GA 30040.
Condolences may be expressed at www.mcdonaldandson.com.
Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 886.9899
