Jacquelyn Anne Holland

Jacquelyn ""Jackie"" Anne Crawford Holland, 93, passed away suddenly on December 20, 2017. Jacquelyn was born in Tilton, New Hampshire on September 29, 1924 to John William Crawford and Anne Rita Sweeney, the 5th of 9 children. Jacquelyn is survived by her husband of nearly 67 years, Henry Holland, 92, and four daughters: Jan Holland-Beachley, M.D. (David Beachley) of Denver, Hilary Holland (Richard Borchers) of Westminster, CO, Greta Van Benschoten (David) of Minneapolis, MN and Cara Holland (Jack Craven) of Buckeye, AZ. Her son, Michael Holland, predeceased her, August 1, 2017. She is survived by her brother, Jack (MD), and sisters, Jane (NY) and Rita (NH), 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Jackie received her B.A. degree, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of New Hampshire in 1948, and attended Claremont College Graduate School, California, where she met Henry. Their common interest in politics and social justice brought them together and shaped their lives. Jacquelyn married Henry in 1952 and they traveled to Nova Scotia for training in the cooperative movement. Under the auspices of the Catholic Church, they went to the Dominican Republic to help establish farming cooperatives. Even with children of her own, Jackie always helped others who suffered setbacks and struggles in their own lives, and remained a social justice advocate throughout her life for civil rights, the mentally ill and the poor. Later, Jackie earned her M.A. in Speech Communications in 1982, from Denver University. She had begun her Ph.D. dissertation when family needs took her away. Jackie loved and supported all her children equally, and encouraged them to pursue their own educational interests and dreams. Jackie was a special person and an amazing human being. She was very kind, compassionate, non-judgmental, and generous with her love, her many talents and her time. She taught her children the importance of standing up for what you believe in. She gave the family a hopeful view of the world, and embraced people based on their humanity, not on their differences. Jacquelyn had a quiet self-confidence that any change was possible and believed that she could be an agent of change, and she was. She was courageous, and remained calm in the face of adversity. She was a wise and spiritual woman, whose hope and strength were drawn from her belief in God and in the goodness of humanity. She never lost hope. Jackie was the light of her family's life, adored by her husband and children. She was creative, with an exquisite sense of color and design. She introduced the family to fine art, architecture and contemporary ceramics, which she collected. She always had the most amazing ability to find inexpensive but exquisitely beautiful personal gifts. She was well-read, very intelligent, with a great sense of humor, a quick wit and an impish smile. After living 43 years in Southeast Denver, 5 years ago Jackie and Henry moved in with Jan and her family. There, Jackie enjoyed family activities, humorous bantering, watching and talking about politics and other news, going to art, music and nature venues around Denver, mountain drives, side by side ""wheelchair walks"" around the park, holding hands with Henry, and always Sunday Mass. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at 10:00AM at Risen Christ Catholic Parish, 3060 S. Monaco Pkwy. Denver, CO. Interment will immediately follow at 12:15PM at Fort Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution in Jackie's name to Doctors Without Borders, Risen Christ Catholic Parish, or the Autism Society of America. Please share memories and condolences with the family below.