Sister M. Paulette Collings, OSF, of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis died on Jan. 22 at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. She was 91 years old.
Sister M. Paulette, the former Martha Rita Collings, was born in Newton on Oct. 1, 1924, the daughter of Clarence and Jennie Marie Ochs Collings. She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1946 and professed her religious vows on Oct. 4, 1948.
Sister M. Paulette was a graduate of St. John's Hospital School of Nursing in 1951. She earned a bachelor's from Marquette University in 1958 and a master's from Xavier University in 1966. She served as a surgical nurse and surgical nursing instructor for 13 years. Upon completion of her master's, she assumed the role of administrator of HSHS hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin and a nursing home in Louisiana from 1966 to 1982.
She was a Fellow in the American College of Hospital Administrators for many years. She was elected provincial of the American Province of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis in 1982 and served until 1988 when she was elected to the General Council of the community and served in Muenster, Germany for six years. In 1994, she returned to the motherhouse in Springfield where she continued to be involved in various roles and responsibilities with her Franciscan Sisters.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers: Orville L. Collings, Clarence E. Collings, and Delbert J. Collings; and two sisters: Juanita J. Anderson and Beatrice M. Coon. She is survived by two brothers: Ray A. Collings of Mattoon, and John W. Collings of Robinson; a sister: Dorothy Briggs of Bridgeton, Mo.; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews; as well as her Franciscan Sisters with whom she shared her life for nearly 70 years.
The Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Christian Burial took place on Jan. 27 at St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel at St. Francis Convent in Springfield with Bishop Kevin W. Vann presiding. Burial was in Crucifixion Hill Cemetery.
Kirlin, Egan & Butler Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.