Dolores Collins, 85, of Red Bank, passed away Sept. 3, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Dolores was born and raised in Bayonne and graduated from Bayonne High School. Following high school, she furthered her studies at Jersey City State College, graduating with a teaching degree.
Dolores married the love of her life, Dennis, in 1962. They started their family in Bayonne, but eventually moved to Holmdel to raise their family and to run the Holmdel Village Pharmacy together.
Dolores was a devout Catholic, spending time as a parishioner of both St. Catherine’s Church in Holmdel and St. James Church in Red Bank. She always dreamed of becoming a florist and remarked how she had achieved that dream by frequently decorating St. James with homemade floral arrangements for church events. She treasured being a part of the St. James church family.
Throughout her life, she enjoyed traveling, especially trips to Disney, and spending as much time as she could with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was famous amongst anyone who encountered her for her cooking, baking and hospitality, always making each person feel welcome and important.
Dolores was predeceased by her husband, Dennis J., and son, Dennis A.
She is survived by her children, Denise Laffey and her husband Terence, Debbie McGrath and her husband Michael, and David Collins and his wife Jamie. She is also survived by her 11 grandchildren: Marissa and her husband Chris; Dennis W. and his wife Nicole; Lauren and her husband Matthew; Emma and her husband Angelo; Rachel; Jesse and his wife Claudia; Jack and his fiancée Beth Ann; Kevin; Alison and her fiancée Oscar; George; and Julia.
Perhaps her greatest joys in life were her great-grandchildren, Landon, Sofia, Lillian and Nora.
A funeral Mass was held Sept. 6 at St. James Church, Red Bank. A repass followed.
The article originally appeared in the September 11 – 17, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
