Mary Concialdi

NAPLES, Fla. — Mary Louise Collins Concialdi, 91, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 29, 2017, in Naples.

An avid college basketball fan, it was fitting she waited until the end of the NCAA basketball tournament to be called home.

She was born in Warrensburg, Missouri, the only child of Dr. Earl A. and Clara McCully Collins. She grew up in Warrensburg and Cape Girardeau.

She graduated from Southeast Missouri State University and earned a Master in Education from Indiana University. She was a teacher at Clark High School and Gavit High School in Hammond, Indiana, for 35 years, until her retirement. She touched many lives during her teaching years.

Her love of basketball was evidenced by her attending every Notre Dame University home basketball game for over 20 years, as well as the Pan American Games in Indianapolis, three Olympics (Montreal, Atlanta and Los Angeles), and countless NCAA first rounds, regionals and Final Fours. While at the Olympics, she developed a love of track and field and watched those events after basketball season was over.

She was preceded in death by her father, Dr. E.A. Collins; her mother, Clara McCully Collins; and her stepmother, Helen Uhl Collins.

She was a great cat lover, and her four cats gave her much love and support over their lives.

She is survived by her two sons, Paul of Chicago and Doug and Jayne of Naples; and her granddaughter, Sarah Duquette and Joe Hickey, also of Naples.

A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.fullernaples.com.

Arrangements are by Fuller Funeral Home of Naples.