Esther D. Collins Merritt

Esther Demos Collins Merritt, 84 years old, of Racine, formerly of Waukegan, Illinois, died in her home on January 25, 2024, surrounded by her loving children, Elaina (James) Geraghty, James Collins, and Matthew (Jamie) Collins. In addition to her children, Esther is survived by her treasured grandchildren, Faith, Grace, and Daniel Geraghty; Nikolaos Collins; Halina and Dimitri Collins, and Savannah and Dylan Hayek.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Peter Collins (1961-1979) and Charles Merritt (2000-2017); her son, George Collins; her parents, Helen, née Ballas, and George Demos; and her brothers, Steven and Nicholas Demos.

Esther was a member of Kimissis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church in Racine, where visitation will take place on Monday, January 29th, beginning at 10:00 am, followed by funeral service at 11:00 am, and entombment immediately following at West Lawn Memorial Park, Mount Pleasant.

Upon graduating from Northwestern University with her Bachelor of Arts in Education, Esther began her career as a first grade teacher at Clearview Elementary School in Waukegan. Upon her marriage and the birth of her children, Esther seamlessly assumed the role of consummate hostess, fulfilling her love of cooking and entertaining. Her family and friends cherished her vibrant parties and delicious meals, often hosted in her beautiful home, decorated with treasured items from her extensive travels near and far.

Upon her return to Racine following Peter’s death, Esther renewed her career in the classroom as a substitute teacher for the Racine Unified School District. There, she magnified her influence on the younger generation, already keenly felt by her own children; and numerous nieces, nephews, and godchildren. She and Charles spent their retirement enjoying their favorite things: traveling, entertaining, and their grandchildren.

Esther’s children would like to thank Mary Johnson for twenty years of loving support and friendship to our family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kimissis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church (1335 S. Green Bay Road, Racine, WI 53406).