Poland resident celebrates 90th birthday

The family of Rita Mae Collingwood threw her a 90th birthday bash Feb. 2 at Bruno’s in Poland. Collingwood and her family celebrated with brunch and shared many memories and stories.

Collingwood was born in East Palestine and has lived in Poland since 1937 when she married Melvin (Jake) Collingwood. She has two children, Melvin (Buddy) Collingwood of Struthers and Myra Franko of Poland, four grandchildren — Jeff of Struthers, Cindy Best of Poland, Jamie of Columbus and David Franko of Columbus

She also has four great-grandchildren, including Matthew Slaven of Poland, Brittany Best of Poland, Jessie and Justin Collingwood of Struthers.

Collingwood is the youngest of 14 children and moved to Poland after marrying. She went to school to become a nurse and was employed as a nurse during World War II. She then moved on to work both in a psychiatric hospital and as a surgical nurse, before becoming the nurse at the Blackburn Home for the Aged in Poland, where she worked for almost 30 years.

Collingwood is quite the story teller and loves to share her tales with family and friends or anyone who will listen. She is thankful for her health and good wit that God has given her and is happiest when surrounded by her family whom she loves very much and feels blessed to watch her great-grandchildren as they grow.