Kasie D. Collins

Belchertown, MA - With shattered hearts and unspeakable sorrow, the family of Kasie Danielle Collins, 32, try to endure her tragic and unexpected passing on Saturday 9/22, at her home in Belchertown, MA.  

Kasie was born on February 11, 1986 and is the much loved daughter of Brian and Ellen Collins, of Averill Park.  She attended George Washington School in Brunswick and was a 2004 honor graduate of Averill Park High School, excelling in soccer, track and lacrosse. She was the proud recipient of the 2004 Warrior award, given for outstanding sportsmanship and athletic achievement.  Kasie continued her education at SUNY Geneseo, where her grit and athleticism helped lead her lacrosse team to the 2008 ECAC championship in her senior year.  She was a Tri Beta Honor Society graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in biology, and subsequently earned her Masters Degree in Environmental Science from UMass Amherst.  These accomplishments led her to a prestigious position with GZA Geoenvironmental in Springfield, MA, where she had just been approved for promotion to Wetlands Scientist/Project Manager, and had worked there for five years. 

Our Kasie was one of a kind. She had a dry and playful sense of humor, a fun-loving spirit and a spunky, irreverent attitude, delighting her young cousins, nephews and nieces with her antics. Kasie was classy, sassy & a little bad assy! She loved adventure, spending the summer of 2008 interning at a Salmon fishery in the wilds of Alaska, and traveling to Botswana Africa in 2016 to participate in the research and tagging of lions. She also traveled to Germany and France in 2009 to visit her sister, Briana, who was stationed overseas in the Air Force.  More comfortable outdoors than in, Kasie found solace and joy in the woods and on the water….hiking, kayking, snowshoeing, dog walking and anything that involved physical activity. 

Kasie’s work ethic was exemplary, and she took great pride in performing her job, or any task, to the highest possible standard. She was not afraid to tackle projects that others might never consider attempting, like getting under the hood and fixing her own car, or repairing the furnace in her home. She was fearless, and fiercely independent, but she had a heart of gold. When she saw a need, she stepped up, most recently working tirelessly, for hours on end, to ease her grandparents’ burden during her grandma’s waning days. She proudly stepped in to be a pall bearer after her grandma passed away. She is our deeply loved and adored daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, and friend, and our hearts will forever ache with missing her. 

In addition to her devastated parents, Kasie is survived by her heartbroken grandfather, Donald J. Wiesenforth, her loving brother Keith (Jessica Angwin) and her adored sister Briana (Shane Goss), as well has her nieces and nephews, Alicia, Logan, Daniel, Noah, Jacob, Penelope and Zella. Also left behind to mourn her passing are Kasie’s cherished best friend and person, Ben Delozier, with whom she shared a very special bond, and her loving boyfriend, Seth Taylor, and their respective families. Kasie is also survived by aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends too numerous to list, but who are equally anguished by her loss. Kasie was an animal advocate to her core. Her love for her pets, Luna and Mr. Meeks, knew no boundaries. They were her children, and she was truly devoted to them. Kasie was predeceased by her cherished paternal grandparents, Richard M. Collins Sr. and Grace L. Collins, and cherished maternal grandmother, Marie J. Wiesenforth.

Family & friends may call at the Bryce Funeral Home on Friday evening, September 28th from 4 to 7PM.  Kasie believed strongly in living as a miniamalist, and valued simplicity. We will be dressed casually, which she would want, and visitors should feel free to dress casually as well. Jeans and tee shirts would not be inappropriate. Kasie was also extremely eco-conscious. Out of respect for her credence, flower arrangements will not be accepted. Instead, a GoFundMe account has been set up in Kasie’s memory in an effort to improve the dog park in Granby, MA, where Kasie spent many happy hours with her dog Luna, and with other dog walkers she befriended over the years.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to this cause, which was near and dear to Kasie’s heart, by visiting www.GoFundMe.com/KasieCollins, or by mailing a check payable to her parents, Brian or Ellen Collins 2915 NY Hwy 43 Averill Park, NY 12018.  Every cent received will be promptly donated to Kasie’s GoFundMe account.

Kasie’s Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday 9/29 from 5 – 8PM in the downstairs community room of St. Henry’s Church in Averill park. Please join our family as we begin the healing process by sharing stories and happy memories of the beautiful soul who left us far too soon. 

Kasie was a bright light in our lives, from her first breath to her last. We will miss her beyond measure forever, but the passage of time will not and cannot diminish our deep and eternal love for her. Rest in peace Kasie Girl. We will spend the rest of our time on this Earth longing for the day we will see your beautiful face again. You are truly now a star, shining down on us from the heavens. 

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Kasie D. Collins, please visit our Tree Store.