November 14, 1956 – December 2, 2023

Sunday, December 17, 2023
3:00 PM

Richmond Coach and Cremation
8500 Staples Mill Road
Henrico, VA 23228

Reverend Felice R. Nieves, Officiating

Dani Lori Collins formerly of Oyster Bay, NY and Roswell, GA departed this life on Saturday, December 2, 2023 in Richmond, VA under the loving care of her dearest niece, Deidre Collins Aleem and the Home Care team of Keyonna Wright, Hanifa Cason, Arshell Aleem Moshoeshoe and Yolanda Tulloch.

Dani is the daughter of the late Lois and Paul Collins of Oyster Bay, NY and was born on November 14, 1956. She spent most of her childhood in Oyster Bay surrounded by her 7 siblings and cousins. As a child, she attended the Mt. Olive Baptist Church Sunday School and was a member of the junior choir. She received her elementary and secondary education at Oyster Bay public schools and graduated from Paul D. Schreiber High School in Port Washington, NY in 1974. Later she attended Berkley Claremont Secretarial School in Hicksville, NY, where she was a backgammon champion. Dani had a good head for business and enjoyed successful careers at TDK Electronics, Accu-Tech, where she served on the management team, and Intralot.

Dani lived briefly in Queens, NY and Los Angeles, CA, before settling in Roswell, GA, where she lived for many years until she became too ill to live on her own. Dani was a gifted writer and was very witty with a vibrant personality. She had a low tolerance for foolishness. She loved life and lived it to the fullest, on what she would call, “her own terms.” With her beloved cousin and best friend, Jacquelyn “Jackie” Francis, she traveled nationally and internationally from Alaska, U.S. to Paris, France and to Dublin, Ireland. Dani and Jackie believed in “letting the good times roll” and they celebrated many holidays together, and the two of them, at one time, co-managed a concession stand at baseball games on the weekends.

Dani was a strong woman who never failed to speak her mind, whether to friends or family. She believed in “telling it like it is” or “like she saw it.” Dani loved her large family deeply, especially her many nieces, nephews and godchildren. Although often misunderstood, she had everybody’s best interests at heart. Dani was great at getting people together. She put together what was supposed to be a family reunion but after childhood and family friends found out about it, it became an Oyster Bay Family and Friends Reunion in 2016.

Dani was a fighter and fought a long and valiant battle, defying all odds for years. She ceased from her fight on December 2, 2023. She leaves to cherish her memory, her beloved and treasured brother Gary (Cynthia); brother Paul, Jr. (Jen) ; sister Phyllis; brother-in-law, Joseph Relling; dearest sister-in-law and friend, Maxine Collins; loving niece and caregiver, Deidre (Omar) Aleem; beloved Aunt Clara, whom she affectionately called “Bella” and Catherine Willett; goddaughters, Rhea White and Lynnell Eatman; dearest cousin and best friend, Jackie Francis; and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends, too many to name here. Dani was predeceased by her sisters, Leona, Marie, Paula, and brother, Barry; her dearest Aunt Mae and cousin Dereck Chandler.

Memorial services to be held on
Sunday, December 17, 2023 at 3:00 PM
Richmond Coach and Cremation
8500 Staples Mill Road
Henrico, VA 23228
(804) 514-0548

Repast immediately following at
5600 Mulholland Drive
Glen Allen, VA 23056