Gertrude Holland Obituary

Gertrude Holland

AGE: 89 • Rifle, CO

During the lunar eclipse on April 4, 2015, Gertrude (Trudy) Holland died peacefully at E. Dene Moore Care Center, in Rifle, Colo., surrounded by her children. She was 89.

Trudy was born to Gertrude and Thomas Haller and raised in Philadelphia. She was valedictorian of the 1942 graduating class of Jules E. Mastbaum Vocational School. She joined J.B. Lippincott Publishing Co., where she was secretary to editor-in-chief George Stevens, and worked there until her marriage to James (Jim) Holland in 1954.

She and Jim moved to Wilmington, Del., in 1956 and joined St. Helena's Parish. There she volunteered as a Girl Scout leader, choir member and for many other parish activities. She used her passion for reading to start the library at St. Helena's grade school, serving as their librarian until 1974. She later served as the librarian for Salesianum High School and for a few years worked at the Walden Books store in the Concord Mall as a sales clerk.

An adventurer at heart, Trudy was an active member of the American Youth Hostel Association and toured Europe several times by bicycle in the 1950's. She and Jim shared a special fondness for Ireland and returned there often to visit friends and dance in local set dances. Both were also involved with the New Castle County Irish Society.

Trudy will be most remembered for her love of song, her original ditties (sung to popular tunes and accompanied by kazoos) that celebrated weddings and birthdays, and for her love of the written word, which she instilled in her children.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim. Survivors include her children, Andrea (Jim Sears), Brennan (Penny), and Claire LeClair (John), grandchildren Aubrey and Fern LeClair, her brother, Elmer Walter Haller, and her nephew, Thomas Haller.

Her funeral will take place at St. Helena's Church, 602 Philadelphia Pike, Bellefonte, on Friday, April 10. Visitation will be from 10 to 10:45AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11AM. Internment will follow at All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Trudy Holland's memory can be made to your favorite library.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News Journal from Apr. 8 to Apr. 10, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Gertrude Holland

2 Entries

Bill Valencia

April 10, 2015

My thoughts and prayers go out to Claire and her family.

April 10, 2015

My dear Trudy,

I am sitting here in front of the computer as I write to you and feeling very sad and emotional that I will not see you again and that I can not be with you today in St. Helena's. As I look at your lovely smiling face I am remembering the first time I met you and your beloved Jim in August 1986. Staying in your lovely home, for my friend, Maureen and myself, it was a home from home, you took such good care of us. It was such a privilege for Donie and myself that you and Jim came to our wedding 26 years ago - we are still using the towels and face towels !!!! We always looked forward to you both visiting and staying with us in our home in both Glanworth and later in Kilbrin. We had some good laughs and great conversations - often, well past midnight !

Trudy, I thank both you and Jim for your friendship. I thank you for your great and genuine interest in our family. I thank you for your generosity of time and for all the beautiful gifts of books you have given to our four children from the time they were born. There are many favourites among those books but I think top of the list has to be " The Runaway Bunny " ! They will always keep those books even though many others have been given away - "We are not giving away Jim and Trudy's books" !!! I am so happy that all four are old enough to remenber you both. It was always a source of great excitement to them when they knew you were going to visit.

Trudy, both you and Jim always spoke with such great love of Claire, Andrea and Brennan and their families. We knew them all before we ever had the pleasure of meeting them ! I well remember you excitement and delight when Aubrey was born and, to quote Jim when she was about three - "She's a right little hiker". You were both as proud as punch of Aubrey and Fern and I know your time spent with your two beautiful granddaughters was precious time and you will be missed greatly by all.

Trudy, I could continue talking to you for the rest of the day, there is so much I would like to say. I know you are back now in St. Helena's Church which was dear to your heart. I have been thinking of you all morning and I am with you and your beloved Jim, and with Claire, Andrea, Brennan, John, Jim, Penny, Aubrey and Fern in spirit as they say their goodbyes to you and I know they will take great consolation in the fact that while they are saying goodbye Jim has already said a big welcoming hello to you.

My dear friend Trudy,- it has been a real privilege to call you and Jim our friends- from us all here in Kilbrin and praying for you all -

Thank you for the wonderful precious memories - God bless you all,

With great love from

Maria, Donie, Nora-Therese, Deirdre, Brendan and Donal XXXXXX

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