Marie Collamore
Marie Collamore, 87, of Reading, MA, died on November 27, 2019. She was at home, surrounded by loving family and friends, safe and free of pain.
Marie was the oldest girl of ten children born January 27, 1932 to Bert and Mary Mulhern Elston, growing up in Westchester County, New York. She attended The Ursuline School, New Rochelle, NY, was awarded a BA from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT, and a MTS from Harvard Divinity School, attending all on academic scholarships. She went on to obtain a Clinical Pastoral Education(CPE) from Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, MA.
Marie worked at a variety of jobs from teachers aide to cook and campground support, finally ending her working life as a volunteer hospice chaplain. She was a Eucharistic minister for the Catholic Church. She was a recovering alcoholic, sober in AA for 34 years.
She is preceded in death by her son John Collamore, her first husband Lawrence Collamore and her siblings Robert, Richard and Kathleen.
She is survived by her wife Jane B Russell, her daughter Christine Collamore and her son Andrew
Collamore. Her living siblings are Don Elston, Eileen Wright, Jerry Elston, Jean Hewitt, Paul Elston and Patty Elston. She had two grandsons: Blaine Collamore and Lawrence Collamore, Jr.
Marie was a sports enthusiast, playing tennis and rowing the Charles for fun. She biked and loved to swim, particularly off Cape Cod, where she lived in the summers. She was an activist, marching against the war in Vietnam,for gay rights, was early into helping form and support The Clothesline Project in Hyannis, and was a regional coordinator for VOTF in the Fall River Diocese. Marie loved to read. She was kind, loving and a force of nature.
A Memorial Service will be held on February 29, 2020 at 11 o’clock at The First Congregational Church in Winchester, 21 Church St, Winchester, MA.
Donations may be made in Marie’s memory to Doctors Without Borders, USA. Mail to P.O. Box 5030 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030
Share
Let the family know you care by sharing this tribute.
Marie was loving and kind and will be missed.
I loved seeing Marie and Jane together at Pemaquid for so many summers.
I am so sorry for your loss.
I have such fond memories of being with Marie and Jane in Pemaquid, ME. These summers will be in my memory forever as well as the kindness Marie always showed. God Bless to a remarkable woman. Jane you’re in my heart ♥️
Marie was a beautiful woman in every way. I am so sorry for your loss. Cathy and I will join you at the church next Saturday to honor her memory and to support Jane and the family.
Marie was a beautiful, kind and loving person. The world is a better place because she was here.
Dear Marie, Big heart and big soul. She touched everyone she met just by being her honest self. Her authenticity raised the energy of everyone around her. Thank you, Jane, for sharing her with us!!
Marie was a unique, multifaceted woman. Her smile. Her sense of humor. Her intelligence. To see Marie and Jane together was to know love. She is with us still and forever. I love you, Marie.
Marie was not one for small talk. She wanted to know people and realized that meant real and honest conversation. Her heart was so full of love, and she had a special place in it for our daughter, Autumn. And I have a special place in my heart for Marie.
Marie. I’m sorry your gone. But you are in a better place. I enjoyed our conversations of sobriety. I would call you just to hear your voice and your words of encouragement were amazing. Sometimes I felt as though you gave me too much credit. But you helped me see life in different circumstances. I miss you. I love you. Until we meet again. BIG HUGS