Dorothy Noyes McCollum Holmberg

Dorothy Noyes McCollum Holmberg passed peacefully after a short illness on December 3, 2021, in the company of her daughters. Born April 17, 1923, in Mishawaka, IN to Dorothy Boles Noyes McCollum and Donald Louis McCollum, she was the older sister of Donald Louis McCollum who previously passed in 2019. While she was looking forward to celebrating her 99th birthday at her beloved Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, she expressed her gratitude for life every day. Dorothy spent her youth in Naugatuck, CT. She graduated in 1941 from St. Margaret's School in Waterbury, CT, earned an associate degree at Bradford Junior College in 1943, and received a certification from the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in New York City in 1944. On October 27, 1945, Albert William Holmberg, Jr and Dorothy married in Colorado Springs, CO. She embarked on the role of devoted wife and stay at home mom for her three daughters, Jeanne Johnson, Margaret Duckworth, and Elin Rowland. After a divorce in 1972, she began a new journey and entered the workforce, ultimately reaching the position of legal assistant at Pitney-Bowes. She also returned to school and graduated with a Bachelor of Science from PACE University in 1976 and received a paralegal certificate from Taylor Business Institute in 1978. In retirement, she spent a good portion of 1990-94 at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico volunteering in the financial and administrative offices and taking classes. She resided independently from 1996-2015 at Rydal Park Continuing Care Community in Jenkintown, PA where she managed the library and enjoyed playing bridge and working with her personal trainer. In 2015 she moved to Sky Valley, CA with her eldest daughter Jeanne where they lived with her youngest daughter Elin. Here, she could regularly indulge her love of music and theatre by going to the Met operas, TCM movies, and Bolshoi ballet at the movie theaters. She loved to follow all kinds of sports, especially rooting for the favorite teams of her grandsons. Our weekly visit to Sunnylands for lunch and a walk never ceased to thrill her as did her nightly ice cream ration. She inspired the younger people who served as her hairdresser, private trainer, massage therapist, care givers, and esthetician as well as our thoughtful neighbors. Dorothy was able to travel abroad extensively and live in many places around the US. No matter where her home was her focus was that of being of service to those around her. Her list of activities includes Girl Scout leader, member of the Board of East Harlem Protestant Parish, AFS chapter president and host, an active member of P.E.O., and various positions in the churches of her choice. She was a member of the D.A.R., was passionately devoted to civil and human rights, and proud to say she went to Washington, DC to join a protest against nuclear arms. We remember her for her resilience, her lifelong interest in learning and current affairs, and active devotion to her community. Having lived through nearly a century of bright innovation and dismal traumas, she found a path of continued acceptance and optimism. She often expressed her gratitude for her good fortune and the care of a loving family. Besides her three daughters, she is survived by 6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and 7 nieces and nephews. Sincere thanks are extended to the staff at Comfort Care Solutions for their kind care of her during her last few months and Mission Hospice in guiding us through the last few days.