Gary E. Collins

Gary E. Collins, 79, of Burlington, NJ, passed away June 13, surrounded by his loving family, following a brief illness.

   The son of Paul and Ann Collins, Gary was born in Mount Holly and raised in Pemberton. 

   A graduate of Pemberton Class of 1962, Gary attended Monmouth College before graduating from American Academy McAllister Institute in New York City and earning his NJ funeral director’s license. He was a sixth-generation funeral director and longtime member of the Burlington County Funeral Directors Association.

   After starting his career in funeral service in Bloomfield, NJ, Gary began working at Page Funeral Home in 1976. He owned the funeral home from 1986 until his 2013 retirement.

   A past member of many clubs and organizations, Gary was a Past President and current member of the Burlington Rotary Club, as well as a 46-year member of the Burlington Lodge #32 F&AM. He was a former member of the Burlington City Planning Board and served on St. Mary’s Church Vestry.

   Predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Jane Ann (nee Johnston), Gary is survived by his daughters, Jennifer (Brian) Schuck of Edgewater Park, NJ and Stephanie (Brian) Reed of New York, NY; his grandchildren, Sarah and Rebecca Schuck and Austin Reed; a brother and sister-in-law, Jeffrey A. and Diane Collins of Tabernacle, NJ; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Peggy and Mike Bristow of Vermont; brother-in-law, Wayne (husband to sister-in-law Mary, deceased) Harris of Texas; his nephew, Christopher Collins of Hammonton, NJ and niece, Alyssa Collins of Manheim, PA.

   A viewing will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in Old St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at the corner of Broad and Wood streets, in Burlington, NJ, with a Masonic service to follow. A funeral service will be held in the adjacent new church at 11:30 a.m. Internment will follow in St. Mary’s Churchyard. 

   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church, 145 W. Broad St., Burlington, NJ 08016 or The Masonic Charity Foundation of NJ, 902 Jacksonville Rd., Burlington, NJ 08016.

   Arrangements will be handled by Page Funeral Home, Burlington, NJ.

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