White Plains, NY-Viola Holmes, 99, of White Plains, NY, passed peacefully at home with family on January 17, 2020. She was born Walentina Zawacki on October 28, 1920 in Norwich, CT, to Andrew and Bertha Zawacki, and graduated from Willimantic High School in 1938.
In 1944 she joined the Navy as a member of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). She was extraordinarily proud of her service as a flight orderly, Aviation Machinist's Mate, Second Class. She served for four years primarily in the European theatre and loved to entertain her friends and family with tales of her experiences both in the air and on the ground. During that time, she also met and later married her Air Force Pilot husband, Bill Holmes.
After working in the public sector, first in insurance and then for the White Plains Department of Social Services, her life expanded into her passions of reading, travelling and family. Always game to hop on an airplane, well into her late 80's she attended Annual WAVES Reunions to reminisce with her Navy buddies.
Throughout her 90's she shared her time with her daughters in Arizona, Colorado and New York, and enjoyed cruises, vacations and road trips all across the US, Europe and abroad.
She continues to be well loved by many, including her 4 devoted daughters and her beloved sons-in-law: Carol & Jim Mager of Colorado Springs, CO; Nancy Holmes & Kevin Mahon of Vail, Arizona; Patty Holmes & Kevin McGovern of White Plains, NY; and Beth Holmes of White Plains, NY
She is also fondly remembered by:6 grandsons: Shanti McGovern of Dallas, TX, Justin McGovern of White Plains NY; Christopher Allirot of Irvine, CA; Kevin Holmes-McGovern of Encinitas, CA; Matthieu Allirot of White Plains, NY and Tristan Holmes of Essen, Germany, 7 great grandchildren: Robbie, Dylan, Ella, Annalise, Kyla, Miles and Brendon, siblings and in-laws: Eleanor Friery (Bill Ennist) of Red Hook, NY; Bob & Betty Zawacki of Windsor, CT, Terry Zawacki of Windsor, CT; and Fran Zawacki of Fairbanks, AK. Brothers Ed, Hank, Rudy, and her sister Irene predeceased her. In addition, numerous nieces, nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews have fond memories.
Viola was a lover… she loved people, she loved trees, she loved to walk, she loved to sing and laugh and she shared her love with everyone she met, friend and stranger alike. "Vivacious Vi's" infectious laughter and deep love of life will never be forgotten.
PS Viola was never one to sit around, and she cherished her daily walks "into town". Her family thought a fitting tribute would be a memorial bench in White Plains. It would serve as a reminder for all of us to "Live every moment, laugh every day and love beyond words".
In 1944 she joined the Navy as a member of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). She was extraordinarily proud of her service as a flight orderly, Aviation Machinist's Mate, Second Class. She served for four years primarily in the European theatre and loved to entertain her friends and family with tales of her experiences both in the air and on the ground. During that time, she also met and later married her Air Force Pilot husband, Bill Holmes.
After working in the public sector, first in insurance and then for the White Plains Department of Social Services, her life expanded into her passions of reading, travelling and family. Always game to hop on an airplane, well into her late 80's she attended Annual WAVES Reunions to reminisce with her Navy buddies.
Throughout her 90's she shared her time with her daughters in Arizona, Colorado and New York, and enjoyed cruises, vacations and road trips all across the US, Europe and abroad.
She continues to be well loved by many, including her 4 devoted daughters and her beloved sons-in-law: Carol & Jim Mager of Colorado Springs, CO; Nancy Holmes & Kevin Mahon of Vail, Arizona; Patty Holmes & Kevin McGovern of White Plains, NY; and Beth Holmes of White Plains, NY
She is also fondly remembered by:6 grandsons: Shanti McGovern of Dallas, TX, Justin McGovern of White Plains NY; Christopher Allirot of Irvine, CA; Kevin Holmes-McGovern of Encinitas, CA; Matthieu Allirot of White Plains, NY and Tristan Holmes of Essen, Germany, 7 great grandchildren: Robbie, Dylan, Ella, Annalise, Kyla, Miles and Brendon, siblings and in-laws: Eleanor Friery (Bill Ennist) of Red Hook, NY; Bob & Betty Zawacki of Windsor, CT, Terry Zawacki of Windsor, CT; and Fran Zawacki of Fairbanks, AK. Brothers Ed, Hank, Rudy, and her sister Irene predeceased her. In addition, numerous nieces, nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews have fond memories.
Viola was a lover… she loved people, she loved trees, she loved to walk, she loved to sing and laugh and she shared her love with everyone she met, friend and stranger alike. "Vivacious Vi's" infectious laughter and deep love of life will never be forgotten.
PS Viola was never one to sit around, and she cherished her daily walks "into town". Her family thought a fitting tribute would be a memorial bench in White Plains. It would serve as a reminder for all of us to "Live every moment, laugh every day and love beyond words".
White Plains, NY-Viola Holmes, 99, of White Plains, NY, passed peacefully at home with family on January 17, 2020. She was born Walentina Zawacki on October 28, 1920 in Norwich, CT, to Andrew and Bertha Zawacki, and graduated from Willimantic High School in 1938.
In 1944 she joined the Navy as a member of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). She was extraordinarily proud of her service as a flight orderly, Aviation Machinist's Mate, Second Class. She served for four years primarily in the European theatre and loved to entertain her friends and family with tales of her experiences both in the air and on the ground. During that time, she also met and later married her Air Force Pilot husband, Bill Holmes.
After working in the public sector, first in insurance and then for the White Plains Department of Social Services, her life expanded into her passions of reading, travelling and family. Always game to hop on an airplane, well into her late 80's she attended Annual WAVES Reunions to reminisce with her Navy buddies.
Throughout her 90's she shared her time with her daughters in Arizona, Colorado and New York, and enjoyed cruises, vacations and road trips all across the US, Europe and abroad.
She continues to be well loved by many, including her 4 devoted daughters and her beloved sons-in-law: Carol & Jim Mager of Colorado Springs, CO; Nancy Holmes & Kevin Mahon of Vail, Arizona; Patty Holmes & Kevin McGovern of White Plains, NY; and Beth Holmes of White Plains, NY
She is also fondly remembered by:6 grandsons: Shanti McGovern of Dallas, TX, Justin McGovern of White Plains NY; Christopher Allirot of Irvine, CA; Kevin Holmes-McGovern of Encinitas, CA; Matthieu Allirot of White Plains, NY and Tristan Holmes of Essen, Germany, 7 great grandchildren: Robbie, Dylan, Ella, Annalise, Kyla, Miles and Brendon, siblings and in-laws: Eleanor Friery (Bill Ennist) of Red Hook, NY; Bob & Betty Zawacki of Windsor, CT, Terry Zawacki of Windsor, CT; and Fran Zawacki of Fairbanks, AK. Brothers Ed, Hank, Rudy, and her sister Irene predeceased her. In addition, numerous nieces, nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews have fond memories.
Viola was a lover… she loved people, she loved trees, she loved to walk, she loved to sing and laugh and she shared her love with everyone she met, friend and stranger alike. "Vivacious Vi's" infectious laughter and deep love of life will never be forgotten.
PS Viola was never one to sit around, and she cherished her daily walks "into town". Her family thought a fitting tribute would be a memorial bench in White Plains. It would serve as a reminder for all of us to "Live every moment, laugh every day and love beyond words".
In 1944 she joined the Navy as a member of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). She was extraordinarily proud of her service as a flight orderly, Aviation Machinist's Mate, Second Class. She served for four years primarily in the European theatre and loved to entertain her friends and family with tales of her experiences both in the air and on the ground. During that time, she also met and later married her Air Force Pilot husband, Bill Holmes.
After working in the public sector, first in insurance and then for the White Plains Department of Social Services, her life expanded into her passions of reading, travelling and family. Always game to hop on an airplane, well into her late 80's she attended Annual WAVES Reunions to reminisce with her Navy buddies.
Throughout her 90's she shared her time with her daughters in Arizona, Colorado and New York, and enjoyed cruises, vacations and road trips all across the US, Europe and abroad.
She continues to be well loved by many, including her 4 devoted daughters and her beloved sons-in-law: Carol & Jim Mager of Colorado Springs, CO; Nancy Holmes & Kevin Mahon of Vail, Arizona; Patty Holmes & Kevin McGovern of White Plains, NY; and Beth Holmes of White Plains, NY
She is also fondly remembered by:6 grandsons: Shanti McGovern of Dallas, TX, Justin McGovern of White Plains NY; Christopher Allirot of Irvine, CA; Kevin Holmes-McGovern of Encinitas, CA; Matthieu Allirot of White Plains, NY and Tristan Holmes of Essen, Germany, 7 great grandchildren: Robbie, Dylan, Ella, Annalise, Kyla, Miles and Brendon, siblings and in-laws: Eleanor Friery (Bill Ennist) of Red Hook, NY; Bob & Betty Zawacki of Windsor, CT, Terry Zawacki of Windsor, CT; and Fran Zawacki of Fairbanks, AK. Brothers Ed, Hank, Rudy, and her sister Irene predeceased her. In addition, numerous nieces, nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews have fond memories.
Viola was a lover… she loved people, she loved trees, she loved to walk, she loved to sing and laugh and she shared her love with everyone she met, friend and stranger alike. "Vivacious Vi's" infectious laughter and deep love of life will never be forgotten.
PS Viola was never one to sit around, and she cherished her daily walks "into town". Her family thought a fitting tribute would be a memorial bench in White Plains. It would serve as a reminder for all of us to "Live every moment, laugh every day and love beyond words".
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