Andrea Gail Rickard

Andrea Gail (Collins) Rickard
March 3, 1938 - June 13, 2025

Andrea, known affectionately as Andy, went home to be with the Lord on June 13, 2025, at the age of 87. She was born in Attleboro, MA, the daughter of the late Andrew Francis Collins and the late Evelyn (Palagi) Collins. She was the wife of the late David W. Rickard, whom she met while working at Metals and Controls in Attleboro. Their first date being an outing sponsored by the company. After their marriage on December 22, 1956, she lived in North Attleboro for 67 years, raising three generations of family.

Andrea attended Attleboro public schools and graduated in 1955. She was a cheerleader and was elected head cheerleader her senior year. She was a member of the National Honor Society and a straight A student. She was also a member of the a cappella choir. After high school she attended one year of nursing school at Beth Israel in Boston.

Andrea is predeceased by her only sibling, the late Vera Sybil (Collins) Harrop. She had four children, the late Lynda Morrison, married to Kevin Morrison, of Norfolk, Stephen Rickard, married to Teresa (Pierson) Rickard, of North Attleboro, Susan Cronin, married to Barry Cronin of North Attleboro, and James Rickard, married to Elizabeth (Fuller) Rickard, of Rehoboth. She had 10 grandchildren, Bianca Mateus, Carla Moniz, Abbie (Rickard) Rechtman, Cody Rickard, the late Daniel Cronin, Kellie Cronin, Shannon (Cronin) Nadeau, Jessica (Rickard) Corbin, Benjamin Rickard, Emily (Rickard) Wootton, and 14 great grandchildren.

Andrea enjoyed sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, gardening, wood working, collecting and selling antiques. She also enjoyed skiing, camping, playing cards, watching sports events, and vacationing with her family in New Hampshire, Maine, and Onset MA, where she and her husband had a summer home for many years. She, with her husband, was an active member of North Attleboro Junior Football, where she was involved in fundraising, coaching the cheerleading squad, and ran the concession stand for many years, coming to be warmly known as the “hot dog lady.” She also volunteered for many years at the North Attleboro Polling centers and was active in the North Attleboro Historical Society.

Her greatest love was in God our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, as she participated in church services and Bible study groups for most of her life. For the last 23 years, she attended Grace Fellowship Church in Plainville, MA, pastored by her son James Rickard. There she was a founding member, sang in the choir, and taught Sunday School. Andrea embodied faith, hope, love, charity, integrity, and dedication, as she passed along a wonderful legacy of salvation in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to multiple generations of her family and others.

A memorial service in her honor will be held at Grace Fellowship Church, 23 Messenger St., Plainville, MA at 10:00am on Wednesday, June 25. A collation will follow at Frankie’s International Bistro, 119 Washington, St., Rt. 1, in Plainville. In lieu of flowers, she requested that donations be made in her memory to Grace Fellowship Church.

For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com .

Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. (508) 695-0200.