Norene M. Collins

AUGUSTA – Norene M. Collins, 88, of Augusta, joined her sweetheart and one true love in Heaven on March 5, 2025.

She was born in Augusta on June 27, 1936, the daughter of Kenneth and Irene Baker. She had a life full of adventure, love and devotion to her family.

Norene was known and loved by everyone who crossed paths with her, known to all children as “Nana Candy”, even the children that didn’t belong to her. She was the strongest woman, in many senses of the word. From a very young age she worked hard to provide for her children, and to them, Kim, Frank, Jackie and Kirk, she was more than just a mother. She was their provider but also their biggest support. She loved them all with all of her heart and was the first to support, laugh with, cry with, and to forgive and keep on loving.

Norene spent her entire life taking care of her family and everyone else’s. She was an active member of the First United Pentecostal Church in Augusta for approximately 50 years.

Norene was predeceased by her husband, Donald W. Collins; her sisters Rita, Betty, Lena and Jackie and her brothers Junior, Norman and Eddie.

Norene is survived by her sons Kirk Collins, Frank Collins and partner Cheryl, her daughters Jackie Ouellette of Belgrade, Kim Ringuette and partner Bert of Winthrop; her grandchildren, Amber Stark and husband Gerald of Oakland, Lacie Hanson and husband, Cory of Litchfield, Faith McLaughlin and husband, Nathaniel of Oakland, Christopher Jones and wife, Erin of Chelsea, Aric Burgess, father of Grace and Kathleen Burgess.

To her grandchildren, Amber, Lacie, Faith and Christopher, she was everything, Nana, Mom, provider of food, Twinkies, Pepsi, Vienna sausages, and poached eggs on toast. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t fix for us with mercurochrome, Midol, or food. She spent endless and unforgettable times with all four of us, making sure we would always remember what family truly meant.

Noreen was blessed with great-grandchildren, Mikayla Donahue, Elizabeth Starke-Poulin and husband, Dawson, Rebekah LaPerriere and husband Kyle, Cedric Bucknam, Grace Burgess and partner Mike, Kathleen Burgess and partner Bryce, Brayden and Hailey Jones, Patience and Destiny McLaughlin. Norene was also blessed to have a great-great-grandchild, Quentin Victor.

To her great-grandchildren she was magic, the endless supplier of anything that they weren’t supposed to have per their parents, including, but not limited to, chocolate, Dilly Bars, ice cream floats, and yes, still, poached eggs on toast. To have acquired great-grandchildren was one of her biggest joys and she never wasted a moment spent with any of them.

The same can be said for her first great-great-grandchild, and had she been here longer, he would have been as well loved as the rest of us and spoiled with chocolate and sweets at her hand.

Her strength and determination can never be matched, and that is what made her unique and so very special to each and every one of us. For us all, she was our rock and our “home”. Everybody knew, Nana’s house is where we were always welcomed, always hassled, and always fed.

We ALL love you Nana, and will miss you, say “Hi” to Grampie for us.

Norene and her family would like to say thank you to Glenridge Nursing Home Comfort Care for the excellent care provided to her during her last days. Special thanks to the First United Pentecostal Church for always loving Nana Candy.

There will be no funeral service, a burial will take place in the spring, where Norene will be laid to rest with her soulmate at the Maine Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home and Cremation Care, One Church St., Augusta.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home website, http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com