Diana M. Collins was born December 1, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan, to Leone Gosselin Collins and Eddie Collins. She passed away on Sunday, October 4th at the age of 87 and 10/12ths.

Diana lived a life defined by education, music, independence, service, and an unwavering willingness to speak her mind.

She graduated from St. Mary of Redford High School before earning a bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University and a master's degree from California State University, Long Beach. A lifelong learner, Diana went on to complete doctoral coursework in Special Education at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor and continued her studies at Wayne State University, the University of Detroit, UCLA, the University of California–Irvine, Creighton University, and Pepperdine University.

During her 38-year career in education, Diana worked as a classroom teacher, special education consultant, and graduate assistant preparing future special education teachers. She began her career teaching kindergarten before finding her calling working with students with learning disabilities and other special needs.

Some of the work she found most meaningful took place inside Michigan's state prisons, where she taught special education students with a wide range of learning challenges. Some entered her classroom unable even to write their own names. Diana believed fiercely in the ability and dignity of the people she taught, and education remained one of the great passions of her life.

After retiring from education in 1998 because of rheumatoid arthritis, Diana certainly did not retire from life.

Music had always been another of her great loves. Throughout the years, she shared her talents as a church musician and choir director and as a performer, accompanist, and musical director for community theater groups in Michigan, California, Iowa, and Nebraska. She spent many years with the Port Austin Community Players and later accompanied the singing group Act III. Through music and theater, Diana built friendships and continued doing what she loved for decades.

And then there was politics.

Despite insisting she had never intended to become involved in it, Diana spent a decade—from age 70 to 80—serving as secretary of Meade Township's Planning Commission. Her years of education, writing, leadership, and advocacy served her well there, too. Diana was never particularly interested in sitting quietly when she believed something mattered.

But for all of her accomplishments, degrees, careers, music, theater, and community involvement, Diana knew that a life isn't measured only by what appears on a résumé.

She loved her family deeply.

Diana is survived by her brothers, Dennis Collins of Oak Beach/Port Austin and Terry (Lee) Collins of Westland and Oak Beach/Port Austin, as well as generations of nieces and nephews whose lives filled hers with love, laughter, pride, and—undoubtedly—a fair amount of chaos.

Her nieces and nephews include Christopher (Nicole) Collins of Clarkston, Denise Collins (Patrick) King of Pigeon, Geoffrey Collins of Plymouth, Kristen Collins Quesada of Canton, Tim (Shannon) Collins of Westland, Steven (Megan) Collins of Illinois, David (Karen) Collins of Ann Arbor, and the late Kevin Collins.

She was also blessed with the next generations of her family: Benjamin, Adam and Sarah (Mike Vianueva), Abigail Jean Collins; Michael McCue (Nailah, Michael, Melody and Dakota); Randi Glaza (Jade, Ruby); Joshua Howard; Paige Collins (Ryan) Keatts (Presley, Ryder, Warner and Emmett); Allison Collins; Andrew Collins; Olivia Quesada; Mia Quesada; Dylan Lorraine Collins; Olivine and Zen Collins; Ava Collins; Julia Quesada; and the late Matthew Soper.

Diana once reflected:

“Not many people can say they have done everything in life they wanted to—I can. The only thing missing was not having children, but my nephews and nieces have filled that void—to overflowing—for which I am eternally grateful.”

Perhaps that is the best way to describe Diana's life: full to overflowing.

At only 22 years old, early in her teaching career, Diana realized that she had already accomplished the things she had once imagined doing “when she grew up.” She then spent the decades that followed adding things she never could have planned—students taught, music performed, communities served, friendships made, family loved, and countless stories collected along the way.

Diana did not simply fill 87 years.

She packed them.

There will be a Funeral Service Tuesday October 6, 2026, at 2pm at the United Methodist Church of Pinnebog. Burial will follow at St. Felix Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday, October 5, 2026, from 1pm -7pm at the Knoblock Funeral Home in Kinde and on Tuesday from 1pm until the time of service at the church.