Mary Katherine Finke
Mary K. Finke passed away on the morning of September 19, 2022, after succumbing to ovarian cancer. As she drew her final breaths, she was comforted by her husband, Scott, and her best friend, Mary Sutphin.
Mary was born on New Year’s Eve in Biloxi, Mississippi to proud parents Andrew K. Collins Sr. and Joanne Dewberry Collins. She grew up alongside her big brother Dr. Andrew K. Collins Jr. The family moved from Mississippi to Austin, Texas and then to Los Alamos, New Mexico. Mary spent her formative years there and often fondly recalled the “change of seasons” and beautiful mountain landscapes. The family moved to Brevard County prior to her beginning high school. After graduating from Melbourne Central Catholic High School, she majored in nursing at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska where her brother, Andy was attending medical school.
She returned to Melbourne and worked as a Registered Nurse at Holmes Regional Medical Center and then Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health in Viera. She met her future husband, Scott Finke, in 1996. They were married in June 1997, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Melbourne Beach. The couple became a foursome with the birth of Nathaniel Joseph who was born December 3, 1999, and Katherine Anne who was born on March 1, 2002. Mary’s love and devotion to Nathan and Katie cannot be expressed in words.
Mary lived a life of faith. Her unwavering Catholic Faith guided her daily and set an example for those who knew her. Even when her Faith was put to the toughest test, stricken by terminal cancer and living her final days, she dutifully prayed for her fellow hospice patients.
Mary’s family and friends will never be able to fill the void now present in their lives but find some relief in knowing that her soul now rests in heaven, free from sickness and pain.
Special thanks to the caring nurses and doctors at Vitas Hospice Inpatient Unit.
Calling Hours and a Rosary Service will be held on Tuesday September 27 from 5pm to 7pm at the Brownlie – Maxwell Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on 10am Wednesday September 28th at The Chapel of The Holy Family Catholic Church. Her burial will be on Saturday, October 8, at 10 am at Florida Memorial Gardens.
“Well done Well done
My good and faithful one
Welcome to the place where you belong
Well done Well done
My beloved child
You have run the race and now you’re home”