Cindy Louise (Callanta) Collins

WORCESTER, MA - Cindy Louise (Callanta) Collins, 53, passed away Saturday Oct 20th, 2018 at Rose Monahan Hospice after a long battle with a brain tumor.  Her courageous fight was fueled by her love of life and the wish to spend as much time as she had with her friends and family, especially her lone granddaughter, Tessie.

Cindy was born June 23rd, 1965 in Washington State and grew up in San Jose, CA.  After high school she worked as an executive secretary until she found what she was best at, being a mom to her 3 children, Gabe, Alacin, and Christine.  She taught each to read, for which she was particularly proud.  She was a second mom to many and would open her home to all her ‘extended family’ whenever they were in need.  A champion of the underdog, she had huge compassion for any creature, with fur or without, that needed a meal and a place to stay. Her other talents included cooking with love, writing with clarity, painting emotion, and living in the moment.  She surrounded herself with hand-crafted art of her own making and that made by her artistic family.  Vibrant color and life-captured-in-art were her motif.

In Dec 2016 her granddaughter, Tessie, was born and Cindy’s talents of motherhood found a new home being a grandmother.  Tessie became Cindy’s reason to fight, like the honey-badger she was, for as many good days as she could squeeze out of this life.  Each day she would put on her tiara and, with the help of her many, many dear friends, battle the cancer that weakened her body but never overtook her spirit.

Cindy is survived by her mother, Sandra Collins, of Sequim, WA, her son, Gabriel Fanning, and his wife Katie, and their daughter Tessie of Boise, ID, her daughter Alacin Fanning and partner Dan McGregor of Maynard, MA, and her daughter Christine Fanning and her partner Sean Alexander of Rochdale, MA.

The family would like to thank VNA Hospice Care of Worchester for the incredible compassion and care they showed Cindy. 

There will be a celebration-of-life at the United Parish Community Center, 39 Main St in Lunenburg from 1 to 4pm Saturday, October 27th, 2018.  In lieu of flowers, please give to the VNA Hospice Care or volunteer to a charity of your choosing as Cindy believed strongly in the community caring for itself.  Rice Funeral Home, 300 Park Ave, Worcester, is assisting the family with arrangements.