Anna Julia Holbert

On the evening of January 14, 2026, Anna Julia Holbert, nee Gomes, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, passed away after a short illness, surrounded by family and loved ones. She was 87 years old. Anna was born to Joseph Joaquin Gomes and Isabella Gonzales DaRosa Gomes in the town of South Dennis Massachusetts on July 26, 1938. She came from a Cape Verdean lineage deeply rooted in faith, family, and resilience. Anna was a devoted mother, the anchor of her household, and a steady presence in the lives of her loved ones.

Anna was on one of the first Yarmouth-Dennis women's basketball teams during high school and was instrumental in the team's 10-2 record in her senior year. She received her associate's degree in Fashion Design from Massasoit Community College in the 1980's. She was a talented seamstress, sewing her children's clothing and creating intricate Halloween costumes for them. She frequently shopped at Saftler's in Whitman to find bargains on fabrics, buttons, and clothing patterns, much to the chagrin of her children who of course had to accompany her on these hours' long adventures! She was an artist, a crafter, and an up cycler before the term was ever mainstream. She could look at a cast-off item and see the potential in it for a piece of art, a dollhouse furnishing, a bird feeder, decorative planter, or a cat toy. She loved her cats, and was widely known as the cat lady of Hanover. She often joked about getting many of her crafting and art materials from "the Country Store" in Hanover, in disbelief that Hanover residents would throw out such valuable objects with so much life left in them. When her children were a little older, she began working various retail jobs in addition to volunteering for the town and helping her neighbors and fellow parishioners at the Church Hill United Methodist Church in Norwell. She fondly remembered her favorite job at Michael's Arts and Crafts, as she could take full advantage of all the discounts and classes they offered. She painted in acrylics and watercolors when she was younger, then revived her expression of art when she lived in Plymouth, taking classes once a week at Stafford Hill Assisted Living. Her oil painting of the Union Street bridge in Norwell was so well done, it was chosen as the image for the Stafford Hill Christmas card that year. Her artistic talent grew over the last few years of her life, and she had great joy in gifting her family and friends canvases she had created.

She began playing tennis in her late 30's, after having five of her six children. She especially enjoyed playing in mother-daughter and mother-son tournaments with her eldest children, Richard and Michelle.

She lived in Hanover, Massachusetts for most of her adult life, and was the proud mother of six children. She was preceded in death by her oldest daughter, Michelle Ann Holbert, and her beloved youngest child, Darryn Gomes Holbert.

Anna is survived by her children, Richard and Kathleen Holbert Jr. of Plymouth, Dana and Kimberley Holbert of Holbrook, Nicolette and Michael Gordon of Taunton, Darryl Holbert and Sandra Fenton of Brockton; grandchildren Amanda Neenan, Jessica Holbert, Kassandra Holbert, Sabrina Holbert, Carissa Fenton, Corey Fenton, Cassie Fenton, Amanda Saylor, Nichole Saylor, Courtney Saylor, Brandon Holbert; and numerous great grandchildren.

Visiting hours in the Sullivan Funeral Home, 551 Washington St, Rte 53 in Hanover on Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 4-7pm. A service will be held at the Harbor United Methodist Church, 55 First Parish Rd, Scituate, MA 02066 at 10 am on Friday, January 23, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Anna's memory may be made to Road to Responsibility, Inc., 1831 Ocean St, Marshfield, MA 02050.