Susan Bradley Collins
Susan Bradley Collins, of Pittsfield, departed this life peacefully, surrounded by family and love, on August 4, 2026. She was 81.
Sue was born on April 23, 1945, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Eileen Reynolds Bradley and Elihu Francis Bradley. Sue was raised in West Hartford and graduated from Conard High School in 1963, attended Mount Saint Mary’s College in Hooksett, New Hampshire, and graduated in 1967 with a BA in Elementary Education.
Sue met her future husband, Frederick Thomas Collins, at a mixer dance while he was attending Saint Anselm College. They were married on July 19, 1969, in West Hartford at Saint Mark’s Church, making their home and raising a family in Pittsfield shortly thereafter.
Sue’s first job out of college was teaching 2nd Grade in Granby, CT, from 1967 to 1969. Upon moving to Pittsfield, she taught 2nd Grade from 1969 to 1971 in the Lenox Public Schools. From 1971 to 1979, Sue stepped back from her career to raise her family before returning to her love of teaching at the Tiny Tots preschool of the Girls Club of Pittsfield. In 1988, Sue was hired as a head teacher for the Chapter 1 preschool program for the Pittsfield Public Schools, working at Conte Community School until her retirement in 2007. Sue was a loving and natural educator who nurtured young minds and prepared countless children for kindergarten. She took great pride in knowing that every student left her classroom knowing their letter names and sounds. She filled her classroom with music, nursery rhymes, art, and heartfelt kindness.
Sue was an unwavering supporter at sporting events and performances for her brothers, nieces and nephews, children, and grandchildren. She spent countless hours on fields, in hockey rinks, dance halls, and theaters. One of her most cherished traditions was tailgating with extended family before Yale football games at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, CT—a tradition started by her father in the 1940s that she proudly carried on with her own family into the mid-2010s. Sue loved her family infinitely.
In retirement, Sue delighted in her growing family, especially her grandchildren. Every summer from 1975 to 2020, she spent two weeks with her family at the Cape House in West Falmouth, MA. She also enjoyed traveling with her loving husband to Ireland, Costa Rica, United Kingdom, France, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Sue was proud of her citizenship to the Republic of Ireland via descent from her maternal grandparents.
Sue was predeceased by her parents and two brothers, Elihu “Chippy” Bradley and Kevin L. Bradley. She is survived by her husband, “Tom,” with whom she recently celebrated their 57th anniversary; her daughter, Jennifer Freshman (David) of Foxborough, MA; her son, Brendan B. Collins (Jan) of New Haven, VT; and her son, Cameron T. Collins (Rachel) of Pittsfield. “Grammy” leaves behind her most beloved grandchildren: Hannah, Quinn, Margaret, Samuel, and Irene Susan.
She also leaves behind two brothers, G. Rohan Bradley III (Deborah) and Quentin P. Bradley (Cindy); sister-in-law Nancy Stangle (Kevin); and sisters-in-law Mary Collins McCormick (Lawrence) and Veronica Collins Vacchina (Paul), along with many nieces and nephews and cousins.
The family extends their sincere gratitude to the staff of HospiceCare in the Berkshires and Kimball Farms Life Care for their compassionate support. Those wishing to honor Sue’s memory may donate to HospiceCare in the Berkshires in care of the Dwyer Funeral Home.
Funeral Notice:
Funeral services for Sue will be Wednesday, August 12, 2026, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11 AM at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 89 Briggs Avenue, Pittsfield, celebrated by the Rev. Matthew Barone, Pastor. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Tuesday, August 11, 2026, from 4 PM to 6 PM at the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201.