December
15,
1915
15,
1915
December
14,
2007
14,
2007
Elizabeth Hammond Holdeman of Sandwich died suddenly after a fall on December 14 while visiting a friend near Boise, Idaho. They had just seen a performance of the Nutcracker ballet.
Mrs. Holdeman was born December 15, 1915 in Oberlin, Ohio where her father was a lawyer. When he passed in 1920, she and her mother Florence Mosher Hammond moved back to the family home in Sandwich, where Elizabeth graduated from Sandwich High School. She attended Oberlin College, earning both a bachelors and masters degree in English. She took additional education courses at Ashland University and Aurora University and taught at Sandwich High School during the Second World War, while her husband was serving in the Pacific. She also spent time in San Diego, serving as a volunteer nurse and enemy aircraft spotter. Following the war the moved to Oberlin where Elizabeth taught fourth grade, after her own sons, Charles and John Holdeman began attending school themselves. Later she worked at Children's Hospital in Boston and as a Librarian at Keystone College in Pennsylvania. Upon retirement Elizabeth and Dean moved back to Sandwich where they became devoted to the cause of the restoration of the Sandwich Opera House. Elizabeth remained a board member until recently. She also volunteered at Woodbury School, attended the United Church of Sandwich, and was a member of PEO.
Elizabeth was always bubbling over with good cheer and was fascinated by everything and everyone around her. She found great joy in doings and accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling and never stopped living life to the fullest. Elizabeth loved music and played the piano. She regularly traveled to the east coast to hear her son, Charles play the basoon. One of her favorite events was the Bach Festival in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which she attended yearly for over thirty years.
She is survived by her sons, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Dean Holdeman and granddaughter, Marjorie Elizabeth Holdeman.
Mrs. Holdeman was born December 15, 1915 in Oberlin, Ohio where her father was a lawyer. When he passed in 1920, she and her mother Florence Mosher Hammond moved back to the family home in Sandwich, where Elizabeth graduated from Sandwich High School. She attended Oberlin College, earning both a bachelors and masters degree in English. She took additional education courses at Ashland University and Aurora University and taught at Sandwich High School during the Second World War, while her husband was serving in the Pacific. She also spent time in San Diego, serving as a volunteer nurse and enemy aircraft spotter. Following the war the moved to Oberlin where Elizabeth taught fourth grade, after her own sons, Charles and John Holdeman began attending school themselves. Later she worked at Children's Hospital in Boston and as a Librarian at Keystone College in Pennsylvania. Upon retirement Elizabeth and Dean moved back to Sandwich where they became devoted to the cause of the restoration of the Sandwich Opera House. Elizabeth remained a board member until recently. She also volunteered at Woodbury School, attended the United Church of Sandwich, and was a member of PEO.
Elizabeth was always bubbling over with good cheer and was fascinated by everything and everyone around her. She found great joy in doings and accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling and never stopped living life to the fullest. Elizabeth loved music and played the piano. She regularly traveled to the east coast to hear her son, Charles play the basoon. One of her favorite events was the Bach Festival in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which she attended yearly for over thirty years.
She is survived by her sons, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Dean Holdeman and granddaughter, Marjorie Elizabeth Holdeman.
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