Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Holland

Holland, Mary Elizabeth (Goodman), 89, passed away at  her home on March 13^th, 2021. Mary was surrounded by her family at the time of her passing, under the compassionate care of Empath Hospice. She was born on July 25^th 1931 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas O. Holland; and her beloved parents J. Carroll and Mae Goodman.

Mary attended the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur in Villanova, Pennsylvania. She attended Penn State and obtained her RN from Jefferson Medical College in 1958. In 1971, Mary moved her family to the Eastern shore of Maryland. While living on Kent Island, Mary was the first, and at the time, the only female to work with the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department.  She taught CPR courses to the volunteer firefighters on the island and made ambulance runs. She also worked as an RN at Anne Arundel Hospital in Annapolis, Maryland.

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 After moving to Saint Petersburg, Florida in 1979 with her family, she began to work at Bayfront Medical Center as an RN.  Mary worked the night shift, helping numerous post surgical patients and making many good friends. She worked as a Mary Kay consultant, and enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie with her fellow consultants. Mary attended mass and volunteered with various programs at Saint Raphael’s Catholic Church, including the CCW, for umpteen years.  Mary loved to sing and act in the annual church plays.

  After living decades in Florida, the trees and seasons of North Carolina called to Mary. She relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina in 2009. While in Wilmington, she attended St. Mark’s Catholic Church.  Mary volunteered with the New Comers program at St. Mark's. She hosted welcome luncheons at her home for new parishioners. Mary belonged to a garden club, a book club, and volunteered as a docent at the historic Bellamy Mansion, in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. 

After a handful of years in North Carolina, Mary returned to Florida. Upon her return, she regularly attended mass and social functions at Saint Raphael’s.  Mary volunteered with the Columbiettes for numerous years.  She was active with the St. Petersburg Opera Guild and loved all kinds of music. Mary enjoyed attending shows and concerts at the Mahaffey theater.  She especially looked forward to taking her daughters to her favorite Broadway shows. In addition to all her past times, Mary loved taking trips to the lakes of Maine with her family.  Endless fond memories were made on the almost yearly trips.  Mary had a very fulfilling journey, that was full of  blessings. She was a devout Catholic, and always made time for prayer. Mary will not be forgotten, and will be immensely missed by all of her friends and family.

She is survived by her children Carol Lovan and her husband Gary, Kristina Wahl and her husband Robert, Stephanie Knapp, Michelle Knapp Brake, Philip J. Knapp and his wife Jennifer, Paul A. Knapp, and Jessica Knapp Solano; grandchildren Matthew Lovan, Katie Deterding, Rebecca O’Toole, Sharon Dillard, Alex Wahl, James Brake, Allison Brake, Charles Brake, Monica Vandergrift, Olivia Knapp, Luke Knapp, and Sebastian Solano; great grandchildren Molly and Meghan Lovan, Caroline, Samuel, Teddy, and Milly Deterding, Jack and Maggie O’Toole, Davin and Reagan Dillard,  Joshua, Jada-Marie, and Jacob Brake.

There will be a funeral mass on Tuesday, March 23nd 2021 at 11 a.m. Please adhere to the CDC Covid-19 guidelines, wear a mask/social distance as much as is possible. To view the service, click here

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest memorial contributions to Empath Health Circle of Caring at CircleofCaring .org or make a donation to your most beloved charity.