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Mary Viola Collum of Southampton died on June 30. She was 85 years old.
Born in St. James on December 11, 1927, to the former Viola Wolf and Irving Simonson, she graduated from East Hampton High School. After graduation, she worked at the Coin Exchange Bank in New York City. On April 19, 1947, she married William Edmond Collum at Most Holy Trinity Church in East Hampton. In 1949, the couple moved to Southampton and started Collum Signs. Ms. Collum worked alongside her husband, keeping the books in the family sign business for 50 years, and owned and operated the Belvedere Motel on the Shinnecock Canal for about 10 years.
She was a member of the Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary for 64 years.
Survivors said Ms. Collum was a loving mother to her four children and that there was never any doubt that her family came first in her life. Her love, guidance and support will be greatly missed, they said. Ms. Collum loved sports, was an avid skier, swimmer, boater and fisherman. Her prized 18-pound bluefish was mounted and displayed with pride in her home.
Ms. Collum is survived by her four children, Carol Suhr and husband James of Virginia, Mary Shannon and husband John Timothy of Virginia, William E. Collum Jr. of Southampton, David J. Collum and wife Elizabeth of Albany; and by 14 grandchildren: James M. Suhr, Douglas W. Suhr, Lisa A. Bromley, Steven C. Suhr, Kevin C. Shannon, Erin M. Rogers, Kelly E. Turner, Colleen L. Shannon, Lindsay K. Reilly, William E. Collum III, Colin J. Collum, Luke Collum, Daniel W. Collum and Steven E. Collum. She is also survived by 17 great-grandchildren, Gabrielle Suhr, Kaitlin Suhr, Ethan Suhr, Emma Suhr, Zachary Bromley, Logan Bromley, Sierra Shannon, Reagan Shannon, Elizabeth Shannon, Connor Rogers, Evan Rogers, Brenden Rogers, Keengan Reiley, Quinlan Reiley, Liam Collum, Thayer Collum and Harper Collum; and sisters, Viola Garcia of Colorado, Rita Stascavage of Port Washington, Dianna Brennan of Bridgehampton, Catherine Winding of Batavia and Barbara Wilson of Sag Harbor.
She was predeceased by her husband, William; a grandson, Shawn C. Shannon; and a brother, George Simonson.
The family will receive visitors at the O’Connell Funeral Home in Southampton on Thursday, July 4, from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be a funeral Mass at Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Southampton on Friday, July 5, at 9:30 am.
on Jul 1, 2013