Keohane Funeral Home

Ann Plankenhorn Collins passed peacefully from this life at the age of 98, surrounded by her loving family, on October 2, 2017.   Ann was a woman of many facets, a military veteran, business woman, public servant, devoted mother and grandmother, and one with a remarkable gift of friendship.  A great lady of Hingham, she contributed mightily during her long life in the private and public sector, as an elected School

Committee and Republican Town Committee member, and as an appointed member of numerous civic committees.

Ann was born in Williamsport, PA, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Frank and Louise Plankenhorn. She graduated from Brown University (then called Pembroke College) in 1942, and entered the first class of officers of WAVES (women’s branch of the US Naval Reserve) during World War II.

In 1943, Ann married William H. Collins, Jr., a shipbuilder like his father.  After WW II,  Ann and Bill lived in Quincy, Long Island, and Hingham, MA, where they raised four children.  Still retaining the Hingham home, Bill and Ann moved for an interim of seven years to Baltimore, MD, where Bill was General Manager of Bethlehem Steel Sparrow’s Point Shipyard.  After Bill’s untimely death in 1977, Ann devoted herself to her family, friends, and the public good in Hingham.

In the private sector,  Ann was Vice President of the Plankenhorn Braidworks & Penn Garment Company in Pennsylvania during the 1940’s.  An enthusiastic traveler, she co-owned and managed a boutique travel agency during the 1990’s.  Among her many academic endeavors, she was a member of the Pembroke Alumnae Scholarship Committee (1964-68),  Alumnae Council (1965), and Student Relations Committee for Pembroke College (1967- 70).

In the public arena, Ann was elected to the Hingham School Committee in 1970 (the second woman to be elected to that body), was appointed to the Hingham Industrial and Development Committee and the Shipyard Committee in the 1980’s and 1990’s, the Hingham 375th Anniversary Committee in 2010, and the Hingham High School Field Study Committee in 2006.  Her civic spirit animated the Hingham Republican Town Committee for many years, where she served as Chairman and Vice Chairman.   Statewide, she was appointed to the Public Policy Committee of Massachusetts Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (1984-89) and The Family Counseling Board (1987-88).

Ann was honored by being named Hingham Citizen of the Year in 2010.

Ann was a member of the Neighborhood Club of Quincy, the Hingham Yacht Club, and the Cohasset Golf Club.  She loved golf, sailing, bowling, dancing, her multitudes of friends, and was known for her gracious hospitality.

A close friend remarked that Ann was never willing to “go gentle into that good night” — just a month before her death, she was dancing at a Cohasset Golf Club event.  Her indomitable, creative, and charismatic personality will be fondly remembered by all who knew her.  She led a full, interesting life, and was the embodiment of “joie de vivre”.

Ann was predeceased by her husband, William H. Collins, Jr, and is survived by her son and three daughters, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren: William H. III & Darthea Collins, Suzanne Collins and her long time partner John Marrone, Christine Collins & her husband West Frazier, and Catherine Collins; grandchildren Will Collins, Andrew Collins, Elizabeth Collins Bunstein, and Sydney Frazier; and seven great-grandchildren.   She is dearly missed by her good friend Charles Chittick and great number of devoted friends.

Ann’s family wishes to offer their sincere thanks and appreciation to the Norwell Visiting Nurses and Hospice, as well as Fran Figueiredo, her most trusted companion, for the wonderful care and loving attention she received during her final journey.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Wednesday 4-7 PM in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), HINGHAM. Funeral service will be celebrated on Thursday at 1 PM in St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, Hingham. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ann’s memory to the NVNA and Hospice, 120 Longwater Drive, Norwell, MA 02061.