Saratoga Springs - Ruth Calkins Collins, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family on Saturday, November 28th, 2009. She was 94 years old. Ruth was born in Glens Falls NY on April 13th, 1915 to Ruth and Raymond Calkins. The family moved to Saratoga Springs a few years later and Ruth became a lifelong resident of the city. She attended and graduated from Saratoga Springs High School as well as Skidmore College. She fondly remembered the closeness and simplicity of her early days in Saratoga. On October 12th, 1937, Ruth married James J. Collins, and together they raised 5 children. After being a stay at home mom for many years, she brushed off her secretarial skills and began working at Caroline Street School. From there she went to Saratoga Springs High School, where she worked in the guidance department until her retirement. Ruth remained very active in her later years. She took up golf in her late 60s, and loved her time spent on the greens with her friends. She was an avid knitter, learned to crochet in her 90s and created beautiful pictures for her family with watercolors and colored pencil. She also enjoyed a good game of Bridge. Ruth was a member of St. Clements Church, the Catholic Daughters for more than 50 years, and The Ladies of Charity. In her later years, Ruth could be seen modeling for the Ladies of Charity fund raiser, showcasing both her extraordinary inner and outer beauty. Two things that gave her great pleasure in her later years were vacationing in Maine with her family, and simple days spent at the pool, talking with her family and friends, and watching her grandchildren laughing and playing together. Ruth was predeceased by her husband James, her parents Ruth and Raymond, her siblings Carol, Marion and Raymond, and her Great-Grandson Ryan. She leaves behind her 5 children; Marilynn Moran, Barbara (Jim) Collins, James (Jane) Collins, Maureen (Art) Maciariello and Bill Collins, 8 grandchildren; Deborah (Spencer) Hellwig, Colleen (Karl) Sleight, Mary Beth (Justin) Donohoe, Kelly Collins, Michael (Karen) Collins, Mark (Terri) Collins, James (Kristina) Collins, Kevin (Jill) Collins, and 8 great grandchildren; Spencer, Paige, Griffin, Danny, Quinn, Keegan, Charlotte, and James Luke as well as several nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends may call from 9 to 10:00am Wednesday (Dec.2, 2009) in Our Lady's Chapel in the parish center of St. Clement's Church, 231 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am on Wednesday in St. Clement's Roman Catholic Church by Rev. Neil Draves-Arpaia. Burial will follow in the family plot at St. Peters Cemetery, West Ave. Our sincere thanks go to her caregivers, Lynn, Julie, Beth and Alma, Hospice volunteers, especially Kelly who helped us so much at the end, Dr. Dooley, Dr. Weinhold, Dr. Condo, her physicians, Carol Hickey, her Eucharistic Minister and a special thank you with gratitude to her friend and so much more, Dawn. Our Mom, Grammie and Great Grammie was a gentle soul with a great sense of humor, who tried to bring peacefulness and cooperation into everything she did. In her last few years she had many challenging surgeries and medical problems to deal with. Right up to the very last day, she never complained, and when asked by anyone how she was doing, she had two standard replies; Im ok or pretty good. Her indomitable spirit and gentle soul touched so many, and she will be greatly missed by all. Kindly consider memorials in Ruths name to the Community Hospice of Saratoga County, 179 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or to the Ronald McDonald House of Albany, 139 South Lake Ave., Albany, NY 12208-3256 (www.rmhcofalbany.org). Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com