Editor's note: The following information was prepared by the family, provided by O'Connell Funeral Home and edited by Patch.
Mary Viola Collum, of Southampton, who co-owned a family sign business in Southampton and a motel on the Shinnecock Canal, died Sunday.
Born December 11, 1927, she was 85 years old. Collum was born in Saint James, New York on December 11, 1927 to Viola (née Wolf) and Irving Simonson.
After graduating from East Hampton High School she worked at Coin Exchange Bank in New York. On April 19, 1947, she married William Edmond Collum at Holy Trinity Church in East Hampton. In 1949 they moved to Southampton and started Collum Signs. Mary worked with 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 Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Roman Catholic Church in Southampton for 64 years. “In addition, Mary was a loving mother to her four children,” her family said. “There was no question that her family came first in her life. Her love, guidance and support will be greatly missed. Mary loved sports, was an avid skier, swimmer, boater and fisherman. The award-winning bluefish of 18 pounds was placed on her and displayed proudly in her home.'
Collum is survived by her four children, daughter Carol Suhr and her husband James of Virginia Beach, Va.; daughter Mary Shannon and husband John Timothy of Springfield, Va.; Son William E Collum Jr. from Southampton. and son David J. Collum and wife Elizabeth of Albany. She is also survived 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 and 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. Collum is survived by her 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 is predeceased by her husband William, her grandson Shawn C. Shannon and her brother George Simonson.
The family will receive visitors at O'Connell Funeral Home Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Basilica of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Southampton on Friday at 9:30 am.
