Helen Marie Collins

December 19, 1927 — January 31, 2018

Helen Marie (Seipel) Collins, 90, of Long Beach., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018 in Lanesville, Indiana. She was born Dec. 19, 1927, in Harrison County, Indiana to Burrel and Annie Laurie Liebert Seipel.

Helen graduated from Nazareth School of Nursing in Louisville, Kentucky in 1945 through the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps.

While working in Seattle she met Jerry Collins and they married in 1968. In 1976 they undertook a two-year contract with CARE/Medico in Afghanistan and stayed through the pro-Russian Coup in April 1978. Following that they worked in Kotzebue and Bethel, Alaska from 1979 through 1982. In 1982-84 they worked in Papua, New Guinea on a contract with the World Health Organization. Next, 1984-90, they were in Juneau, Alaska and a short contract with the Pan American Health Organization in Nassau, Bahamas before retiring in 1990.

They moved to their vacation home in Surfside that they had purchased in 1968. Next began their volunteer service; 1993-94 they worked with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless in a downtown Denver medical clinic;’95-’96 with Vista Volunteers in Portland, Oregon; 1998-99 back to Alaska to work with the Jesuit Volunteers at the St. Francis House that provides clothing and furniture to those living in poverty. When they did come home to stay, they became active members and generous supporters of St. Mary Parish and with St. Vincent de Paul in Seaview. Helen was also a volunteer with the OWL program once it started.

Helen could often be seen walking her three-mile circuit through Seaview and Long Beach and participated in many community events.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jerry Collins; brother, Eldon Seipel; and a niece, Teresa Seipel. She is survived by her brother, Dr. Stanley Seipel (Joan) of Lanesville, Indiana; nieces, Ann Hudgins, Mary Seipel, Helen Lhotka, Jane Seipel, Martha Wingate; nephews, Joseph Seipel, MD, Bro. Brendan John Seipel, OSB, six great-nieces, six great-nephews, two great-great nieces, her beloved friends on the Long Beach Peninsula and her many friends around the world.

A Memorial Mass is scheduled at St. Mary Catholic Church in Seaview on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. A reception follows.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Vincent de Paul, St. Mary Seaview, P.O. Box 648, Seaview, WA 98644.

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Helen Marie Collins

December 19, 1927 — January 31, 2018

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