St. Charles loses 'matriarch'

When then St. Charles mayor Fred Norris used to hold meetings at 6 a.m., Joann Norris-Collins showed up with rollers in her hair.

And no, she wasn't related.

It wasn't to mock the mayor. It was to make a point: the meetings were too early.

"That's the kind of thing she did," said her son, John Collins. "She had a lovely sense of humor."

Mrs. Collins died Tuesday at her home after a long battle with emphysema. She was 82.

Mrs. Collins was a member of historical societies in both her place of birth, St. Charles, and her hometown, Naples, Fla.

All told, she volunteered her time to about 15 organizations.

But despite her commitment to public involvement and philanthropy, she enjoyed one position above all else.

"Some people aspire to be something else, but she cherished being a mother," John Collins said. "She was truly an awesome person. I was always totally amazed by her humanity and grace."

Mrs. Collins, or as her 14 grandchildren called her, "Gorgeous Grandma," was born in St. Charles on May 31, 1926, to Lester and Dellora A. Norris, the namesake of the city's cultural arts center.

Mrs. Collins continued her family's tradition, remaining involved in the Delnor-Community Hospital's Women's Auxiliary and the hospital foundation's board of directors.

"She was a matriarch of so many things in St. Charles: the school, (Delnor-Community) hospital, and the city," John Collins said. "They were all dear to her."

Don D'Amico became superintendent of St. Charles School District 303 in 1975. Upon his arrival, the Norris family had already been working on the John B. Norris Recreation Center and St. Charles East High School was being built on land donated by the Norrises.

D'Amico remembers Joann "Joie" Collins as part of that philanthropy.

"She was a very loving person, a caring person," he said. "She was able to further the community, to be generous to the community and at the same time, she was modest and caring.

"She was a lovely person and I miss her."

Mrs. Collins is survived by six children, two siblings and 14 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Yurs Funeral Home, 405 E. Main St., St. Charles. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Delnor-Community Hospital Healthcare Foundation, 300 Randall Road, Geneva.