Obituaries

Chicago (Nov. 21, 2024) – Rev. Daniel J. Collins, retired priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and former pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Northlake, passed away Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at the age of 93.

Collins was born on Dec. 31, 1930, in Chicago. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.

Collins was ordained to the priesthood on April 12, 1958, by Cardinal Samuel Stritch, and he celebrated his first solemn Mass on April 13 of the same year at Queen of the Universe Church in Chicago.

After ordination to the priesthood, Collins served as assistant pastor at the following parishes: St. Francis Borgia Parish on Addison Street in Chicago, St. Issac Jogues Parish in Niles, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish on Belmont Avenue in Chicago, and St. Christopher Parish in Midlothian. He then served as associate pastor at St. Leonard Parish in Berwyn and later as pastor of St. John Vianney Parish.

From 1985 to 2000, Collins served as chaplain of St. Francis Hospital in Evanston. He retired from the priesthood in 2000.

Rev. Edward Harnett, retired archdiocesan priest and one of Collins’ close friends and classmates, remembered his late classmate as an exemplary priest who was very dedicated and kind to all. Harnett recalled Collins’ incredible character, how he “was an extraordinarily generous, hardworking priest; he never made a big fuss about what he was doing, just totally dedicated to being good to people and caring for them.”

All funeral services will take place on Saturday, Nov. 23 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 708 W. Belmont Avenue in Chicago. Visitation hours will be from 9 to 10 a.m. The funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. and will be celebrated by Most Rev. Francis Kane, auxiliary bishop emeritus of Chicago. Deacon Paul Spalla will be the homilist.

A private interment will occur at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery in Alsip.