Thomas Joseph Collier, 72, of Pleasant Valley, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Thursday, June 16, 2011.
Born in Sharon, CT on March 9, 1939, he was the son of Francis J. Collier and Gertrude E. Murphy Collier Culver. A long time resident of Dutchess County, he was a graduate of Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School and proudly served our country in the US Air Force. Tom enjoyed fishing and boating and spent many years up and down the Hudson on the "Lois Jane".
Tom is survived by his wife, Lois Jane; his faithful companion, Susie; his daughter, Beverly Bellizzi and her husband Peter of Highland; his grandsons, Shawn and Peter Bellizzi of Highland; his great-grandson, Marshall Bellizzi of TN; his stepdaughter, Toni Schene of Kansas; his brother, Peter Collier and his wife Ginny of Schenectady; his sister, Linda Curtis and her husband Will of Millbrook; his nephews, Darrin Thomas Curtis of Pleasant Valley and Command Master Chief Brian S. Collier of the US Navy; and his special aunts, Catherine Winchell of Salt Point and Barbara Murphy of NJ. He was predeceased by his nephew, Anthony Francis Curtis.
Services will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice Foundation, Inc., 374 Violet Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or the Dutchess County SPCA, 636 Violet Avenue, Hyde Park, NY 12538. Arrangements are under the direction of McHoul Funeral Home, Inc. To send the family an online condolence, please visit www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.
I'd like the memory of me
to be a happy one,
I'd like to leave an afterglow
of smiles when life is done.
I'd like to leave an echo
whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing
times and bright and sunny days.

I'd like the tears of those who
grieve, to dry before the sun
Of happy memories that I leave
When life is done.