Obituary of Mary Collins Worden

Mary Collins Worden, 85, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on March 28, 2025. She was born in Syracuse, NY on August 4,1939. She was one of 15 children born to Bill and Kate Collins. Mary grew up on Tipperary Hill, graduated from St. Patrick's School and attended Cortland State.

She held jobs in banking and later accounting for the Cortland County Office of the Aging. It was during her time working at General Electric where she met Robert Worden, to whom she was married for 40 years. She and Bob raised their two children, first in Mechanicsburg, PA before returning to central New York and settling in Cortland where they lived for many years.

Mary was so proud of her large family and loved sharing stories about growing up as the oldest girl in the family. The annual family reunion in Syracuse, bringing together her siblings and dozens of nieces and nephews was one of the highlights of her year. She was extremely proud of her Irish heritage and loved St. Patrick’s Day. She also loved her time walking outdoors, watching sports, playing bridge and spending time with her four grandchildren.

In later life, Mary moved to Chambersburg PA, where she loved tending to her flowers, time with cherished friends and watching her grandchildren fish in the nearby pond. She could make anyone laugh and always had a cup of coffee and a piece of chocolate at the ready.

Mary is survived by a daughter, Karen (Worden) Peters and her husband Ken, a son, Michael Worden and his wife Maxine. She also leaves her grandchildren, William and Alexander Peters and Colin and Nathaniel Worden. Mary was predeceased by her siblings, John Collins, Carol Solan, and Patricia Russell and James Collins. She is survived by siblings William Collins, Katherine Collins, Eileen Sganga, Margaret Comins, Nancy Gaughan, Sister Anna Mae Collins, Michael Collins, Elizabeth Collins, Thomas Collins, and Richard Collins.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 4, 2025 at St. Patrick’s Church in Syracuse at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Dewitt. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.