In Loving Memory Of

Theresa Ann Collins

May 24, 1932 - July 13, 2026

With our hearts full of love and gratitude, we celebrate the life of Theresa Ann Collins, who peacefully entered eternal rest at her home in Covina, California on July 13, 2026 at the age of 94. Theresa was born on May 24, 1932 in Bridgeport, Nebraska in a small farmhouse during the Great Depression to Carl Otto Van Ness and Lucy Otilda (Fendrich) Van Ness as their sixth child. She moved to Sidney when she was in 8th Grade. She was confirmed in a Roman Catholic Church in Nebraska and her strong Catholic upbringing helped guide her through future challenges in life. She loved children and so she became a teacher and worked with young students in Nebraska before moving to California.

Theresa met and fell in love with Robert Bickel in Nebraska.

At the age of 23, Theresa and Robert moved to Redondo Beach, California where they married in a Catholic Church. Robert’s sister Betty was their Matron of Honor and her brother, Lyle was the Best Man.

Theresa worked at A.T. & T. until the birth of their first child, David in 1960.

Theresa and her husband Robert stayed in Southern California and welcomed five more children, Janet, Judy, Diane, Danny and Nancy. After Theresa and Robert’s divorce she found herself a single mother struggling to raise her six children. Her strong faith in God and Catholic beliefs helped her prevail. Once their children entered school age she returned to the work force and worked for Lawndale School District as a Food Service Manager for 16 years. After all her children left home to pursue their careers or marry and start their own families, Theresa was so excited to welcome her six grandchildren, Jesse, Paul, Julie, Sean, Maggie, and Scott of which she loved with all her heart and was so proud of each and every one of them.

After living alone for several years a new chapter in her life opened when she met and fell in love with Michael Collins and married in 2000 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. They shared a happy and loving life together in Covina, California until her passing. Theresa is preceded in death by her first husband, Robert Bickel; Parents, Carl and Lucy Van Ness; brothers, Lewis, twins; Lyle and Le Roy and sisters, Lucille and Veronica; Theresa is survived by her husband Michael Collins, sons, David Bickel and his wife Shelley, Danny Bickel and his wife Gabriela; daughters, Janet McSpadden, Judy Hall and her husband Timothy, Diane Govea and her husband Tom and Nancy Bickel. Grandchildren, Jesse Bickel, Paul Hall and his wife Erin Flores, Julie Quinn and her husband Ethan, Sean Hall, Maggie McSpadden, and Scott Hall.

As tears roll down my face,

I know you're in a better place.

I close my eyes to see your face,

suddenly I feel a warm embrace.

I don't know if I will ever understand,

but it must be part of God's plan.

As I look up towards the sky,

I imagine you spreading your wings to fly.

Viewing: July 27, 2026

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Douglass & Dunaway Mortuary

4286 W. Broadway

Hawthorne, CA 90250

Burial Mass: July 28, 2026

10:00 am

St Margaret Mary Catholic Church

25511 Eshelman Ave

Lomita, CA 90717

Burial: July 28, 2026

12:00 pm

All Souls Cemetery

4400 Cherry Ave

Long Beach, CA 90807