Obituary of Claudette L Collins

Claudette Lorraine Collins was born on December 14, 1950 to the late Levi A. Collins, Jr. and Marie Maddox-Collins of West Berlin, New Jersey. Claudette attended the Berlin Township School System and continued on to Edgewood Regional High School in Winslow Township.

In her earlier years, Claudette held various positions of employment which included working at Crestview Nursing Home, Denton Vacuum, and Hillman’s Bus Services as a bus aide. Due to her lifelong battle of manic depression, she was unable to continue working, but she was able to find a love for cooking which was her favorite pastime. Most of her techniques and cooking style were contributed to her spending time with her mother in the kitchen. Anyone that knew her, knew that her favorite dish to make was potato salad. In addition to cooking, Claudette could always be found in her apartment or her mother’s home listening to her great collection of vinyl records, especially Marvin Gaye and Teddy Pendergrass, spending time with family and friends, talking endlessly on the phone, reading, cross-stitch, working on puzzles and enjoying her cigarettes. 

Claudette accepted Jesus Christ at an early age and attended Mt. Zion AME Church in Kresson, NJ with her family. Due to her declining health and short battle with Throat Cancer, Claudette became a resident of Sterling Manor Nursing in Maple Shade, NJ where she regularly attended weekly Bible Study and Sunday Church Service. In her final days, she was a resident at Manor Care Nursing Home in West Deptford, NJ where she continued rehabilitation services. Claudette was known for roaming the halls all day throughout the facility entertaining the staff with her own sense of humor. Through her trials and tribulations, Claudette was always surrounded by love, especially the endless dedication, time and patience that of her special cousins: Jean, Leo, Gregory, Sylvia and Danel. No matter the circumstances, she always continued to have a giving heart to those she met.

Claudette leaves to cherish her memory her faithful, dedicated and loving sister Jacqueline Wallace, patient brother in law, Ronald M. Wallace, loving niece, Dana Wallace and a host of family and friends. Also special thanks of gratitude to the hardworking and giving the staff of Manor Care Nursing Home.