S Virginia T. (Collins) Lundstrom

WORCESTER – Virginia T. (Collins) Lundstrom, 87, of Worcester, died surrounded by her loving cats and dog at the home of her caregiver and son, Dr. Paul E. Lundstrom, after a long illness with Alzheimer’s on Tuesday, April 7, 2009. She was the widow of Paul H. Lundstrom, who died in 1984.

Mrs. Lundstrom was born in Brooklyn, New York, daughter of the late George W. and Anna Mae (Hudson) Collins. She moved to Worcester in 1932 and resided there her entire life. She attended Commerce High School until 1938 when a few months after her father died, she left school to work full time to help support her mother and younger siblings during those difficult times. She married Paul H. Lundstrom in 1942.

She will be remembered by her family and friends as an avid animal lover and camper. She was well known in the dog obedience training shows of the 1960’s, winning many awards including the “Best in Show” with two miniature poodles. She was a longtime member of the Shrewsbury Dog Training Club.

Mrs. Lundstrom was a seasonal camper on Cape Cod occupying the same camp site continuously since 1974. She also did considerable traveling in the USA visiting 44 of the states including Alaska and Hawaii. She loved travel adventures, went blimp riding in Florida, hot air ballooning in New Mexico, steamboating on a paddlewheeler on the Mississippi River and rafting along the Colorado and Snake Rivers. She traveled to Point Barrow Alaska, the northern-most spot on the North American continent and walked on the frozen Arctic Ocean. She experienced whalewatching off of Alaska, Hawaii, Cape Cod and Maine.

She is survived by three children, Donna Mae Malpass and her husband Dennis of Auburn, Paul E. Lundstrom M.D. of Dartmouth and Gary K. Lundstrom M.D. and his wife Kelley of Rehoboth; 6 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; a sister, Ruth Holmes of Worcester; and a brother, William “Bud” Collins of Simpsonville, South Carolina; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by three sisters, Mary Horne, Claire Oberg and A. Patricia Curtin, as well as a brother, George W. Collins.

The family would like to thank Putcha R. Murphy M.D. for his many years of compassionate and excellent medical care of their mother.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 9th, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden. A private graveside service will be held at All Faith’s Cemetery, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts Chapter, 311 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472.

Website & Guest book: www.milesfuneralhome.com